Tuesday, 6 November 2018

842) The Toucan (Ramphastos toco): The first coin in a Silver Coin Series titled "Series of the Toucan" brought out by the Niue Island, (a part of the New Zealand Realm) and minted by the European Mint, Estonia in 2018:

842) The Toucan (Ramphastos toco):   The first coin in a  Silver Coin Series titled "Series of the Toucan" brought out by the Niue Island, (a part of the New Zealand Realm) and minted by the European Mint, Estonia in 2018:


The Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is the first Silver  coin issued in the coin series titled the "Series of the Toucan" by the South Pacific island country of Niue, commonly referred to as "The Rock" or the "Rock of Polynesia", which has been  minted by the European Mint located at Tallinn, Estonia. 

Niue lies North-east of New Zealand, East of Tonga, South of Samoa and West of the Cook Islands. A coral reef surrounds the island. It is a small country with a population of less than 1,800, which is predominantly Polynesian. Its capital is Alofi. It is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand which conducts most of Niue's diplomatic relations on its behalf. As such, Queen Elizabeth II is its Head of State in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand.  Around 95% of Niuens live in New Zealand.

The Reverse of the one  Dollar, one Oz Silver Bullion coin, in a collage with a painting of a Toucan facing left


Every year, a different toucan design will feature on these Silver Coins focussing on these most beautiful birds in the world which are found primarily in Central and South America and which are rarely depicted in modern numismatics which makes this entire coin series a highly collectible and unique one, much like the Kookaburra Coin Series from the Perth Mint, Australia, but more exclusive as it is being issued in Proof quality only.

This coin is legal tendering the territories/realm of New Zealand.

About the Toucan Bird species:

The name of this bird group probably derives from the Tupi word "Tukana". Toucans are members of the Neotropical near Passerine bird family - "Ramphastidae", birds which are brightly marked and have large colourful bills.

Toucans are further sub-divided into five genera -

Genus Aulacorhynchus - green toucanets (11 species)

Genus Pteroglossus - aracaris (14 species)

Genus Selenidera - dichromatic toucanets (4 species)

Genus  Andigena - mountain toucans (4 species)

Genus Ramphastos - typical toucans (8 species)

Toucans are arboreal and typically lay 2-21 white  eggs in their nests, which are predominantly made in tree hollows and holes excavated by other animals. They also nest in cavities in trees and the presence of suitable trees is a habitat pre-requisite for toucans.

Toucans are resident breeders and do not migrate. Toucans are native to the Neo-tropics - from Southern Mexico, through Central America into South America, South to Northern Argentina. They mostly live in the lowland tropics, but some prefer temperate climates at high altitudes in the Andes. 

Generally, the toucans are forest species and restricted to primary forests, although they may enter secondary forests to forage. The only non-forest living toucan is the toco toucan, which is found in the savannah with forest patches and open woodlands.

Toucans are extremely popular and well known pets, world, although in some countries like India, they are a prohibited bird species to be kept as pets..

 About the Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco):

The Toco Toucan, also known as the common or "giant toucan" is the biggest and most iconic member of the Toucan family. It is found throughout a large part of Central and Eastern South America. 

It is essentially a non-forest species. It can be found in a wide range of semi-open habitats such as woodlands, Savanna and other open habitats with scattered trees, Cerrado plantations, forest edge and even wooded gardens. It is mainly a species of lowlands but occurs up to 1,750 metres (or 5,740 feet) near the Andes in Bolivia.

The toco Toucan has a striking plumage with a mainly black body, a white throat, chest and upper-tail coverts and red under-tail coverts. At first sight, what appears to be a blue iris is actually a thin blue skin around the eye. The blue skin is surrounded by another ring of bare, orange skin. 

The most noticeable feature, however, is its huge bill which measures from 15.8 to 23.0 centimetres in length, which is yellow-orange, tending to deeper reddish-orange on its lower sections and culmen, and with a black base and large spot on the tip. It looks heavy, but as in other toucans it is relatively light because the inside is hollow. The tongue is nearly as long as the bill and very flat.

This species is the largest toucan and ranges from 55-65 centimetres in length, with a weight range of 500.0 to 876.0 grams, with the males being the heavier of the two sexes. Other than the size difference, there is no external difference between the sexes. 

Its voice consists of a deep, coarse croaking, often repeated every few seconds. It also has a rattling call and will bill-clack. 

The bill is the largest relative to body size of all birds providing 30 to 50% of its body surface area.  Charles Darwin opined that it was a "sexual ornament". The bill also aids in peeling fruit, intimidating other birds, when robbing their nests, social selection related to defence of territory and as a visual warning. 

The bill has the ability to modify blood flow and so regulate heat distribution in the bird, allowing it to use its bill as a thermal radiator. In its capacity to remove body heat the bill is comparable to that of elephant ears.

The toco toucan eats fruit using its bill to pluck them from trees, but also insects, frogs, small reptiles, small birds and their eggs and nestlings. The long bill is useful for reaching places that would have otherwise been out of reach. 

This toucan is typically seen in pairs or in small groups. During flight, the toco toucan alternates between a burst of rapid flaps with the relatively short, rounded wings and gliding.

Nesting is seasonal, but timing differs between regions. The nest is typically placed high in a tree and consists of a cavity, at least part of which is excavated by the parent birds themselves. It has also been recorded nesting in holes in earth-banks and terrestrial termite nests. 

Their reproduction cycle is annual. The female usually lays two to four eggs a few days after mating. The eggs are incubated by both sexes and hatch after 17-18days. These birds are very protective of themselves and their chicks.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Classification for these birds is of "Least Concern" (LC).


A Tuco Toucan seen perched on a tree-trunk in its natural habitat


About the Silver Proof Coin depicting the Toucan:


The Reverse of the One Dollar Silver Coin depicts a stylised Toucan perched on a branch, which extends as stylised background flora behind the bird. There is also the semblance of a forest thicket in the background, with a group of birds flying over the of  the toucan's image.


The peripheral inscriptions are - "TOUCAN. 1 Oz 9999 FINE SILVER".



The Obverse of the One Dollar Silver Coin bears an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right. This portrait has been designed by Ian-Rank Broadley whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck.

The peripheral inscriptions are - ELIZABETH II. NIUE. ONE DOLLAR. 2018".


The Specifications of the One New Zealand Dollar Silver Coin:


Denomination: One New Zealand Dollar; Metal Composition: .9999 Fine Silver (Au); Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1 Oz; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 1,000 pieces only; Year of issue: 2018; Mint: European Mint, Tallinn, Estonia minted on behalf of Niue.  

Remarks: The coin comes in an elegant custom-made arylic protective capsule with a gift box box, with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and a serialised number from 1 to 1000:



To gather more information about this Silver Coin issue, please visit the European Mint site at the following link:

 https://www.europeanmint.com/2018-1oz-niue-toucan-9999-fine-silver-proof-coin/






Links to other interesting posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this Blog:

2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 
 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017


20) The Earth and Beyond Coin Series issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): First coin in the series - The Earth - issued on 03.04.2018


21) Wedge Tailed Eagle Coin Series: 200 Dollars Gold, 100 Dollars Gold & 1 Dollar Silver coins brought out by the Perth Mint, Australia in its on-going series started in 2014 in collaboration with John Mercanti, Chief Engraver of the US Mint: Coins issued in 2018


22) Australian Kangaroo Coin Series: 25th Anniversary Commemoration: A $100 Gold Coin and a $10 Silver Coin with selective gold plating issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in 2018


23) "Kangaroo at Sunset": The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) is phasing out this iconic $25 Gold Coin from its repertoire of Commemorative Coins in 2018


24) "Discovery": An exclusive one piece - 2 Kilo Gold Coin studded with four Argyle Pink Diamonds/Gemstones minted by the Perth Mint, Australia in co-ordination with the Argyle Pink Diamonds Mine on 04.09.2018


25) "The Moon": The Earth and Beyond three Silver Coin Series: Royal Australian Mint issues the second coin in the series - a silver coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.09.2018


26) New $10 Australian Banknote issued on 18.09.2017 under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

27) New Australian 50 Dollar Banknote (AUD $50) issued in 10/2018, under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New Generation of Australian Banknotes introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

28) "Lake Argyle" - "The Jewel of the Kimberley", Australia: Limited Edition Series of Rare diamond ingots in Pink Gold (10 Oz. & 1 Oz.) and Platinum (1 Oz.) studded with eight Argyle Pink Diamonds each issued by the Perth Mint, Australia in collaboration with the Argyle Pink Diamond Mine (2018)

Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:
Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

2) Four Leaf Clover - Coin titled "Silver Fortune" - A 5 Dollars Silver coin issued by Coin Invest Trust in 2018


3) Totem Pole 2 Oz. or 10 Dollars Silver coin from the Republic of Palau being issued on 12.06.2018


4) The "Maneki Neko Cat" ot the "Fortune Cat" : A $1 Gold Coin issued by the Republic of Palau: Minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich for Coin Invest Trust in 2018


Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:


1) Battle of Marathon: Battles that changed History Coin Series: A $2 Silver coin issued by the New Zealand Mint of behalf of Niue Islands in 2018


2) Sachin Tendulkar: "World's Greatest Batsman": Gold & Silver coins issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands in 2015


3) The Toucan (Ramphastos toco): The first coin in a Silver Coin Series titled "Series of the Toucan", brought out by the Niue Island, (a part of the New Zealand Realm) and minted by the European Mint, Estonia in 2018

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