Niue Island and the New Zealand Mint have released the “Great Cities” collection’s fifth coin, which features Japan’s dynamic capital city, Tokyo. (The previous cities featured were Copenhagen, Shanghai, London, and New York.) Originally a small fishing village known as Edo, the growing city became the nation’s political center in 1603; its name was changed to Tokyo (tō, meaning “east,” and kyō, meaning “capital”) after the arrival of the emperor in 1868. It is now the world’s most populous metropolis, home to more than 13 million people.
Each 1-ounce fine silver “Great Cities” coin has a contemporary-style design that sets notable buildings from each city against a Proof-quality background. This fifth coin highlights the towering Tokyo Skytree, along with other notable buildings in the capital city’s skyline.
The reverse of the coin depicts several of the highest buildings in Toykyo. In the foreground is a close view of the Skytree’s “main pod”; in the background behind the Skytree, the tallest structures are the Shinjuku Park Tower (at left), the Tokyo Tower (center), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (right). Clouds fill the deep background behind the buildings. In the exergue below the cityscape is the word TOKYO; at upper right, in small letters, are the weight, metal, and fineness, as 1 oz 999 Fine Silver.
The obverse depicts the standard effigy of HM Elizabeth II as designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, with his initials, IRB, below the base of the neck. Surrounding the effigy is the legend ELIZABETH II NIUE TWO DOLLARS, with 2017 below.
Denom. | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Mintage Limit |
$2 | .999 silver | 1 oz. | 40 mm | Proof | 3,000 |
“Tokyo Skytree” is available from June 13. Each coin is encased in an elegant themed box that slides open to reveal the coin, which is enclosed in a clear capsule and fitted into a black-velvet interior. A numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Please see the website of the New Zealand Mint for more information on the coin and the series, or to place an order. ❑
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