1595) PAC-MAN Arcade Video Game, Niue Islands: 40th Anniversary milestone (1980-2020) celebrated by issuing a Commemorative Coin - Gold $250 and Silver $2 coordinated by APMEX, USA: Year of Coin issue: 2020:
The Reverses of three Silver Coins shown against a background of the PAC-MAN Arcade Game.
About PAC-MAN:
PAC-MAN is an arcade video game originally released in 1980 by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. (previously NAMCO).
The original Japanese title "PUCK-MAN" was changed to "PAC-MAN" for international releases as a safeguard against making alterations in arcade machines by changing "P" to an "F".
The development of the game began in 1979, directed by Toru Iwatani with a nine person team. Iwatani wanted to create a game that could appeal to women, as well as, men, because most video games of that time had themes or war or sports.
Although the inspiration for the PAC-MAN character was the image of a pizza with a slice removed, Iwatani rounded out the Japanese character for mouth - "kuchi".
The in-game characters were cute and colourful and appealed to younger players. The original title of PUCK-MAN was derived from the titular character's hockey-puck shape.
Introduced in the USA in 10/1980, it gained popularity far higher than in Japan, called "PAC-MAN fever".
It spawned a wide merchandising programme with more than 400 items and a TV Series which was quite popular in the USA.
"PAC-MAN' became a wide-spread critical and commercial success and it has an enduring commercial and cultural legacy.
The success of the game led to several sequels, merchandise and two TV series and a hit single by Buckner and Garcia. The character of PAC-MAN is also the mascot and flagship icon of Bandai Namco Entertainment.
The Game received the "most successful coin-operated game machine" award from the Guinness Book of World Records in 06/2005.
With new console and mobile games launching every year, the Game's popularity has risen manifold across the globe for over four decades now.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android and online platforms.
The Company has created many popular video games - PAC-MAN, GALAGA, TEKKEN, SOULCALIBER, ACE COMBAT, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, DRAGON BALL Z etc.
The Commemorative Coins:
US Coin Dealer APMEX has issued a range of Gold and Silver Coins for Niue Islands to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the popular arcade game.
The Gold Variant:
On the Reverse of the $250 (Two Hundred Fifty Dollars) Gold Coin is featured the official PAC-MAN, 40th Anniversary logo along with an officially licensed illustration of PAC-MAN being chased by a ghost nicknamed "BLINKY".
On the Obverse of the $250 (Two Hundred Fifty Dollars) Gold Coin is depicted the Coat of Arms of Niue Islands, the face value of the Coin - "$250 DOLLARS" and year of issue - "2020", surrounded by the officially licensed PAC-MAN sprites from the original 1980s classic arcade game.
The specifications of this $250 Gold Coin are:
Denomination: $250 (Two Hundred Fifty Dollars); Country of Issue: Niue Islands; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.0 Oz; Diameter/Size: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mintage: 400 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes, Coin comes in a PAC-MAN branded box; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes; Year of issue: 2020.
The 40th Anniversary PAC-MAN logo
The $250 Gold Coin specifications outlined on a card.
The Game.
The Presentation Box/Case packed inside an outer cardboard cover.
The Silver Coin Variants:
The Silver Coin variants come in three Variants. The variations are in the Coin Quality and mintages:
On the Reverse of the $2 (Two Dollars) Silver Coin Variants is featured the official PAC-MAN, 40th Anniversary logo along with an officially licensed illustration of PAC-MAN being chased by a ghost nicknamed "BLINKY".
On the Obverse of the $2 (Two Dollars) Silver Coin is depicted the Coat of Arms of Niue Islands, the face value of the Coin - "$2 DOLLARS" and year of issue - "2020", surrounded by the officially licensed PAC-MAN sprites from the original 1980s classic arcade game.
The specifications of the Silver Coin variants are:
Denomination: $2 (Two Dollars); Country of Issue: Niue Islands; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.0 Oz; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) (x 2 Variants) an Proof (1 Variant); Mintage: 25,000 & 4,000 pieces (BU Variants) & 400 pieces Proof Variant; Presentation Box/Case: Yes, Proof Variant Coin comes in a PAC-MAN branded box; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes for the Proof Variant; Year of issue: 2020.
The PAC-MAN logo.
The tube containing Silver Coins.
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30) Women's Suffrage, USA: 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment's Ratification (1920-2020), that endorsed Women's Right to Vote: Date of Coins/Medals issue: 18.08.2020
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