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5 Dollars - Elizabeth II Asiatic Lion Skull
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Dollars |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Highly detailed, deeply struck composition presenting a dramatic juxtaposition of an Asiatic lion skull in high relief overlaid upon the naturalistic face of a living Asiatic lion. The skull, rendered with anatomical precision and prominent exposed canine teeth and cranial structure, occupies the left and central field, while the surrounding fur, whiskers, mane, and right eye of the lion are finely engraved in the background, conveying a powerful memento mori theme. The antiqued finish enhances the depth and contrast between the skeletal and fleshy elements. The inscription 2 oz 999 Fine Silver appears in the lower left field. |
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| Additional information |
Niue has functioned since the 1990s as a licensing vehicle for the New Zealand Mint, issuing collectible silver under its sovereignty while maintaining essentially no independent monetary policy. The Asiatic lion — Panthera leo persica — once ranged from Greece to Bangladesh; today fewer than 700 survive in a single forest in Gujarat, India, making this a conservation-adjacent release in the crowded "skull coin" genre that spiked sharply in collector demand around 2016–2019.