The Government of Niue has launched the first coin in a new 10-coin series which focuses on the animal kingdom’s most endangered species on each continent, with the first coin featuring one of South America’s rarest parrots – the Hyacinth Macaw.

Native to central and eastern South America, this extraordinary bird has a length from the top of its head to the tip of its long pointed tail – of about 100 cm or 3.3 ft. It is longer than any other species of parrot and is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species. Habitat loss and trapping wild birds for the pet trade has taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild, and as a result the species is now classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, and as a result, it is protected by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or CITES.

The coin, struck on behalf of the Government of Niue by the Mint of Poland in Warsaw and designed by Dobrochna Surajewska, includes on the reverse – a vivid, digital printed application along with a matching color crystal which serves as the indication of the Hyacinth Macaw’s indigenous habitat on the South American Continent. The obverse cleverly includes illustrations of the future animals which will be included in this series hidden or integrated into the leaves on the symbolic tree of life shown as a primary motif. A cameo portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II is also included and is positioned to the upper half of the coin.

Denomination Metal Weight Dimensions Quality Mintage $1 .999 silver 17.5 grams 38.6 mm Proof 2000 pieces

The coin is available in a custom presentation circular box with certificate from the retail outlet of the Mint of Poland on-line – however international orders cannot be dispatched.

For more information on this and other coins offered by the Government of Niue and the Mint of Poland, please visit their retail website at: http://www.skarbiecmennicy.pl/monety-zagraniczne/zagro/1-ara-hiacyntowa-ag-999.html Information offered only in Polish.



