This belongs to a wave of novelty collector issues that flooded the market in the late 2000s, when Pacific island jurisdictions — Cook Islands prominently among them — licensed their minting authority to European producers, chiefly the Austrian Mint and affiliated private houses, to produce themed pieces for the souvenir and gift trade. The coins are legal tender in name only; none circulates.
Swarovski's partnership with various mints on collectible coins began gaining commercial traction around 2004 and became a standard feature of the themed issue market within a few years.
This belongs to a wave of novelty collector issues that flooded the market in the late 2000s, when Pacific island jurisdictions — Cook Islands prominently among them — licensed their minting authority to European producers, chiefly the Austrian Mint and affiliated private houses, to produce themed pieces for the souvenir and gift trade. The coins are legal tender in name only; none circulates.
Swarovski's partnership with various mints on collectible coins began gaining commercial traction around 2004 and became a standard feature of the themed issue market within a few years.