In a currency far, far away: Coins with embossed Star Wars characters become legal tender on Polynesian island



They've got their own religion... now they've got their own currency.

Coins with embossed Star Wars characters like Darth Vader, Yoda and Princess Leia have become legal tender.



Shops on the small Polynesian island of Niue - 1,500 miles off the coast of New Zealand - will now accept the cash for everything from food to clothing.

May the force be with them: The coins feature an elite Empire Stormtrooper and the robots C-3PO and R2-D2



The special commemorative coins have a face value of one or two NZ dollars (50 pence or £1).

But collectors are unlikely to spend them because a set costs cost up to £11.80 each each to buy from the New Zealand Mint.

The coins are struck in the same way as a pound coin, giving them a 3D embossed effect.

And like the pound coin, the reverse side of the Star Wars coins features the head of the Queen who is also the monarch of Niue.

The coloured coins are available as three sets.One set of ten silver-plated coins feature C-3PO, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Han Solo, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader and Yoda.

Film heroes: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Yoda and Obi Wan kenobi



They are limited to 50,000 of each design and measure 40mm. Each set comes with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.

The release also includes a Darth Vader four-coin set and Millenium Falcon four-coin set, which cost £235.95 per series.

These 1oz silver coins come in a case that looks like Darth Vader or the Millennium Falcon.

The Vader case makes the sound of the character breathing as it is opened and the Falcon has the sound effect of the ship's 'Jump to light speed'.

Minted: The coin featuring Chewbacca and Han Solo and the Queen's head



These coins also measure 40mm but have a face value of 2 NZ dollars and are limited to 7,500 of each design.

A spokesman from the New Zealand Mint said: "The coins are legal tender, however they are more suited as a collectors piece as the value of the metal content is higher than the face value.

"We expect these coins to be popular with both coin collectors and Star Wars fans, who will certainly be 'wowed' by them.

'We are absolutely delighted to be involved with such an amazing franchise.

'Don't deny the Force within you. Make sure you secure all of these out of this world coins.'

The complete Star Wars Saga was released on Blu-ray earlier this month and Episode I: The Phantom Menace will be released in 3D in February.

The release of the coins has been timed to coincide with the relaunch.



All the coins are sold by the New Zealand Mint online. The mint will issue new sets of Star Wars coins every year until 2014.

There are 500,000 worldwide members of the Jedi religion, named after the 'Jedi Knights,' the zen-like warriors of the film series.

Fans in Australia and England joined an internet campaign by putting Jedi as their religion on census forms.

