5 Dollars - Elizabeth II Thraex

The Thraex was one of the most recognizable gladiatorial classes in the Roman arena, distinguished by its curved Thracian sword — the sica — and small rectangular shield. The type originated as a direct Roman appropriation of Thracian military equipment, turning a conquered people's fighting style into entertainment. Solomon Islands has issued a series of gladiator-themed coins through the New Zealand Mint under licensing arrangements common to Pacific island nations whose minting programs exist almost entirely as a vehicle for the collector market rather than domestic circulation.