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2024 Niue $10 Year of the Dragon – Gilt 5 oz (Silver Black Proof)
DUELING DRAGONS! Celebrate the most auspicious Year of the Dragon with this dramatic 5 troy ounce pure silver black proof, gilded with 24-karat gold plating and numbered on the edge with its unique serial number!
Mintage just 888!
Epic design! Twin dragons, one gold, one silver, duel for the elusive Pearl of Wisdom (engraved with the Chinese character for “dragon”), amidst a black proof backdrop of swirling clouds. There are no legends on the obverse, to further enhance this dramatic scene.
Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark’s brand-new effigy of King Charles III graces the reverse. The reverse has the inscriptions: "CHARLES III" - the name of the King, "NIUE 2024" - the issuing country and issuing year, "10 DOLLARS" - the face value and "5 oz 999 SILVER" - the weight and fineness of the Silver.
The Year of the Dragon—Most Powerful and Auspicious!
Centuries ago, the Chinese invented a calendar based on the lunar (rather than the solar) cycle. There are twelve animals in the Chinese lunar zodiac, each corresponding in sequence to a year rather than a month.
In 2024 we celebrate the Year of the Dragon. According to tradition, people born during a Year of the Dragon (1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024) are said to exhibit that animal’s attributes. While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren't applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast! They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion.
The Dragon in the East
The Oriental or Chinese concept of the dragon is much different than the European notion of this beast. Whereas in the West dragons are nearly always evil, fire breathing creatures of immense size and destructiveness, in the East they are beloved. Chinese dragons are benevolent, representing most auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, and floods. In yin and yang terminology, a dragon is yang (male) and perfectly complements a yin (female) fenghuang, the mythical "Chinese phoenix".
The dragon is a mystical being, able to use an almost unlimited range of magical or supernatural powers. It is able to disguise itself as a tiny silkworm, or become as large as our entire universe. It can fly among the clouds or hide in water. It can form clouds, turn into water or fire, become invisible or glow in the dark. It is interesting to note that the Oriental dragon's ability to fly is a magical (not a physical) ability; unlike European dragons, Chinese dragons are rarely if ever depicted with physical wings.
Historically, the dragon was the symbol of the Emperor of China. Many pictures of oriental dragons show a flaming pearl under their chin or in their grasp. The pearl is associated with wealth, good luck, and prosperity. In Chinese culture, the pearl also symbolizes perfection, which is only obtained through the highest forms of wisdom. As such, the pearl is retained in the clutches of the dragon, who, like the emperor, reveals great "pearls of wisdom" as it bestows abundance and prosperity upon its people.
Niue
Island Country
Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s known for its limestone cliffs and coral-reef dive sites. Migrating whales swim in Niue's waters between July and October. In the southeast is the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, where trails through fossilized coral forests lead to the Togo and Vaikona chasms. The northwest is home to the rock pools of Avaiki Cave and the naturally formed Talava Arches. ― Google
Capital: Alofi
Dialing code: +683
Population: 1,620 (2018)
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Continent: Oceania
Official languages: Niue, English
Government: Parliamentary system,
Constitutional monarchy, Non-partisan democracy.
Photos are NGC High Res. Adobe Photoshop Elements used to fix any digital artifacts.