As part of its February releases, the New Zealand Mint has issued the sixth coin of its Warriors of History collection, the Apaches one-ounce silver coin.
The Warriors of History collection brings alive the stories of some of the most legendary warriors in history. The collection’s latest offering features a coloured illustration of an Apache firing an arrow in battle. He stands against an antique-finished, engraved background depicting a band of warring Apaches on horseback. This high-impact, colourful, and partly engraved coin comes in a themed rectangular coin case. The uniquely numbered certificate of authenticity sits inside the coin case. There is a limited mintage of 5,000 coins.
LEGENDARY WARRIORS
Human history is filled with stories of legendary warriors who fought and conquered their enemies through the skilful use of weapons and their superior battle tactics.
Whilst hunting for food, Apaches honed their skill with the bow and arrow. In war, they also fought with long spears, knives and tomahawks. Their weapons were dangerous in close range, and could also be thrown with legal accuracy and speed. The U.S. Army found them to be fierce warriors and knowledgeable strategists.
Long and bloody battles were fought against aggressors and those wanting to takeover of their land. They became known for their warlike disposition. Their prowess in battle became legend, led by several great Apache warriors such as Cochise and Geronimo.
In a ceremony in 1749, an Apache chief buried a hatchet to symbolize that the fighting was over, thus the term we use today, “bury the hatchet.”
COIN SPECIFICATIONS
- Metal .999 Fine silver
- Weight: one ounce
- Finish: Antique/coloured
- Diameter: 40 mm (nominal)
- Edge: Milled
- Denomination: $2
- Year of Issue: 2017
- Mintage: 5,000
- Effigy: Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley
- Country of Issue: Niue
GREAT CITIES: SHANGHAI
New Zealand Mint has also issued the third coin of its Great Cities collection, which features China’s showpiece city, Shanghai.
The Great Cities collection features significant cities from around the world. Each one-ounce Fine silver coin has a contemporary design, combining notable buildings from each city against a Proof-quality background.
This third coin in the collection shows the unique Oriental Pearl Tower in front of buildings from the Shanghai skyline. The coin is encased in a themed box that slides open to reveal the coin nestled in a black velvet interior. The uniquely numbered certificate of authenticity sits within the packaging and there is a limited mintage of 3,000 coins.
Shanghai—literally “Above the Sea”—is a port city on the estuary of the famed Yangtze River and traces its roots back to the Song Dynasty, about a thousand years ago. Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai is now the commercial and financial centre of mainland China after rapid re-development began in the 1990s. It’s China’s largest metropolis on the mainland with a population of more than 24 million. Shanghai is a fascinating mix of East and West. Across from the original settlement of Puxi is the Pudong New Area. Its modern and ever-expanding skyline includes the emblematic Orient Pearl Tower, while The Shanghai Museum has one of the best collections of Chinese historical artifacts in the world.
Shanghai is China’s richest city and the leading trendsetter in fashion, design and the arts, as well as the best city in the country for shopping and dining. It has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of mainland China.
COIN SPECIFICATIONS
- Metal: .999 Fine silver
- Weight: One Troy ounce
- Finish: Proof
- Diameter: 40 mm (nominal)
- Edge: Milled
- Denomination: $2
- Year of Issue: 2017
- Mintage: 3,000
- Effigy: Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley
- Country of Issue: Niue
50th ANNIVERSARY OF DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK
Lastly, New Zealand Mint’s Jungle Book collection celebrates the 50th anniversary of this much loved Disney film.
Released on Oct. 18, 1967 and based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale, The Jungle Book was the last animated feature supervised by Walt Disney. While Disney didn’t live to see the completion of the film, it was met with great praise by the critics and became one of Disney’s all-time box-office winners. A family-friendly musical, the film included songs such as I Wanna Be Like You, Trust in Me, That’s What Friends Are For and the Oscar-nominated Bare Necessities.
There are four one-ounce Fine silver coins in the collection. Each coin features a classic image of Mowgli with another key character from the film. The artwork for all four coins is featured in full colour with selected engraving. The coins are presented in a themed story-book style packaging. The certificate of authenticity is found inside the front cover and provides further insight into the film and the characters featured on the coins.