The Star Wars Franchise has proven to be fruitful grounds for the New Zealand Mint in recent years. With no less than four separate series currently running based around the popular theme. These include the Star Wars Classic coins, The Force Awakens, Rogue One and the latest arrival The Star Wars ships coin collection.
Star Wars Ships Series - Star Destroyer Silver Coin Reverse
The Star Wars Ships series launched with the a ship from the Rebel Alliance, the iconic Millennium falcon. So perhaps it is only suiting then that the second coin should represent the Empire, with one of it's most intimidating and recognisable ships: The Star Destroyer.
Star Wars Ships 2017 Millennium Falcon 1oz Silver Coin Obverse
Unlike the Millennium Falcon the Star Destroyer is not a unique ship but rather a class of star ship in the Empire's fleet. The wedge-shaped Imperial Star Destroyer is a capital ship bristling with weapons emplacements. Turbolasers and tractor beam projectors dot its surface. Its belly hangar bay can launch TIE fighters, boarding craft, land assault units, hyperspace probes, or be used to hold captured craft. In the days of the Empire, its bustling bridge would be staffed by the finest officers in the Imperial starfleet. Its presence in a system marks matters of extreme Imperial import.
Star Wars Ships Series - Star Destroyer Silver Coin in Box
Just as with the previous coin in the series, the reverse design depicts a blueprint-style design. Featuring a top down and rear view of the Star Destroyer with small annotations highlighting the ships propulsion system at the rear and deflector shield generator to the top. The only other text on the reverse of the coin are the words “STAR DESTROYER™” at the bottom. As well as the by now customary “1 oz 999 Fine Silver” and “© & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.” appearing along the top rim.
The obverse of the coin displays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II at the centre. The portrait is encircled by the usual legend describing the ruler, country of issue, denomination and date of issue as such: “ELIZABETH II”, “NIUE”, “TWO DOLLARS” and “2017”.
Star Wars Ships Series - Star Destroyer Silver Coin
The coin is shipped in a black, Star Wars branded, printed presentation box, along with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The coin is minted from 1oz of pure .999 Fineness silver to a 40mm(1.5748 Inch) silver round. Apart from the colourized finish to the reverse, the coin is treated to the New Zealand Mint's usual proof finish. A limited Mintage of 10 000 coins have been produced and the coin is available to order directly from the New Zealand Mint website for $80.00 each. Alternatively, most trusted international coin dealers should stock these.
I'll admit that the blueprint design is not precisely my favourite, but by the same merit I suppose that it does cause the coin to stand out from the crown a bit. Making it a very recognisable series right out of the gate. 'I'm mostly just curious to see which other ships will feature in the series by completion.
