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5 Dollars - Elizabeth II Marco Polo
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
| 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 | The obverse features the right-facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II after the portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials IRB appear below the truncation. The denomination '5 DOLLARS' is inscribed in the central field to the right of the portrait. To the right of the effigy, a finely detailed relief scene depicts a ceremonial elephant procession beneath a domed pavilion, rendered in high relief with elaborate ornamental detail. The legend 'ELIZABETH II' arcs along the upper border, with 'NIUE 2022' and the fineness 'Ag .999' inscribed along the lower periphery. The entire design is framed by an ornate decorative border with geometric and floral motifs in antiqued finish. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a richly detailed high-relief scene depicting the Venetian explorer Marco Polo astride a camel, rendered in antiqued silver with exceptional sculptural depth. Polo is shown in fur-trimmed medieval traveling attire, holding the reins of his camel while a small color-inset red book — representing his celebrated travel chronicle — is prominently affixed to the design at center. The background features a panoramic composition of Asian architectural elements including pagodas and mountain peaks to the left, and a seated robed figure with vessels and a falcon to the right, evoking the Silk Road journey. The legend 'Marco Polo' appears within a decorative cartouche at the upper edge, and a heraldic shield bearing the winged lion of Venice is featured at the lower center. The field is filled with a caravan scene and ornamental drapery, creating an immersive narrative composition. |
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| Additional information |
Marco Polo's presence on a Niuean coin requires some explanation. Niue, a self-governing island in free association with New Zealand, has since the 1990s operated essentially as a mint-for-hire, licensing its sovereign issuing authority to produce collectible coins with no connection to the island itself. This coin is a product of that arrangement — a bullion-adjacent commemorative aimed squarely at the collector market.
Polo's 1271 departure from Venice initiated a journey that would keep him in Kublai Khan's service for roughly seventeen years. His account, dictated while imprisoned in Genoa after 1298, remained one of Europe's primary sources on Central Asian geography for over a century.