2732) American Grizzly Bear, Niue Island: "Fierce Nature Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series features the American Grizzly Bear: The New Zealand Mint (NZM) has minted a $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin on behalf of Niue Island: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023:
The Header/Banner shows the Reverse and Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin flanking an image of a snarling Grizzly Bear. The inscriptions are: "Fierce Nature" at centre left and "New Zealand Mint" (at right).
The Government and Treasury of Niue has brought out the third coin in this extraordinary Coin Series titled “Fierce Nature,” which depicts some of the most ferocious wildlife found around the world.
The latest coin features the Grizzly Bear, a fierce creature which has provoked both fear and, to a degree, a sense of respect and awe for a species which wields power and the skills of a courageous hunter.
The Grizzly Bear ("Ursus arctos horribilis"), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first described it as grisley, which could be interpreted as either "grizzly" (i.e., "grizzled" - that is, with grey-tipped or silver-tipped hair) or "grisly" ("fear-inspiring", now usually "gruesome").
Who were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark?
(Louisiana Purchase or “Vente de la Louisiane” in French (or “Sale of Louisiana”):
This represented the acquisition by the United States of America in 1803 of 828,000 sq. miles or 2,144,000 km. or 52,992,000 acres of French territory in Lousiana.
The sale/purchase was concluded by the USA paying a sum of 50 million francs or $11,250,000 and writing off of French debts amounting to 18 million francs or $3,750,000, with the total deal coming to $15 million.
The Louisiana territory which passed into USA hands comprised all or parts of 15 present states – Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, parts of Minnesota west of the Mississippi river, most of North Dakota, Northeastern New Mexico, Northern Texas, portions of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado East of the Continental Divide, Louisiana West of the Mississippi River, including the city of New Orleans, comprising the two Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. This purchase was made during the tenure of President Thomas Jefferson.
The Lewis & Clark Expedition or the “Corps of Discovery Expedition” (1804-1806):
Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson commissioned this expedition consisting of a select group of US Army volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark.
The primary objective of this expedition was to explore and map the newly acquired territory, find a practical route across the Western half of the Continent and establish an American presence in this territory, before Britain and other European Powers laid a claim to it.
The Expedition was also tasked with scientific and economic objectives, that of studying the area’s plants, animal life and geography as well as establishing trade routes with local Indian (Native American) tribes.
More about Grizzly Bears:
In addition to the mainland grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis), other morphological forms of brown bear in North America are sometimes identified as grizzly bears - the Kodiak Bear ("U. a. middendorffi"), the Kamchatka Bear ("U. a. beringianus"), and the Peninsular Grizzly ("U. a. gyas") - as well as, the extinct California Grizzly ("U. a. californicus"), Mexican Grizzly (formerly "U. a. nelsoni"), and Ungava-Labrador grizzly (formerly "U. a. ungavaesis").
Grizzly bears near the coast tend to be larger while inland grizzlies tend to be smaller.
The Silver Coins:
The New Zealand Mint (NZM) has minted these coins at their facilities in Auckland on behalf of the Treasury of Niue.
The coins have been issued in the shape of the face of the Bear and struck from two ounces of pure silver.
On the Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin is displayed a Grizzly Bear’s head, sporting a menacing roar to highlight the animal’s strength and ferocity.
The intricate detailing of the bear’s facial features and fur succinctly captures the animal’s unique beauty.
To highlight the design and detail, an Antique Finish (AF) has been applied to the surface.
The Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin features the official seal of the Government of Niue, in the centre.
The denomination of "FIVE DOLLARS" is shown above the seal, and the year of issue, "2023", and the coins’ specification of "2 oz 999 Fine Silver", are placed below the crest.
The specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Niue Island; Denomination: $5 (Five Dollars); Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series Theme: "Fierce Nature Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "American Grizzly Bear"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 2.00 Oz or 62.2 grams; Dimensions/Size: 40.00 mm x 38.56 mm; Con Quality: Antque Finish (AF), Oxidised; Minted By: New Zealand Mint (NZM); On Behalf of: Nue Island; Mintage: 2,000 pieces.
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- Each coin is specially encapsulated in an acrylic capsule to accommodate its unique shape. It is nestled in black velvet inside a custom-designed, themed box with a large transparent display window.
A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is included along with the coin’s unique number in the limited mintage of 2,000.
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