2015 Niue Colourized Endangered Species Blue Whale Fine Silver Coin (No Tax) Scratched capsule

2015 Niue Colourized Endangered Species Blue Whale Fine Silver Coin (No Tax) (Scratched capsule)

The blue whale is the largest animal on earth. Known for its blue-grey colouring, it can grow up to 33 m (100 ft) in length and reach a weight of 200 tonnes -- equal to a stack of thirty elephants!

Sadly, the blue whale's population was decimated by the whaling industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when they were hunted for cod-liver oil and whalebones. The practice, however, was outlawed in 1967, and since then the species has been making a comeback. To celebrate, the Mint of Poland released this 17 g, 99.99% fine silver coin as part of their Endangered Animal Species series, featuring a colourized blue whale and her calf swimming through the sea on the reverse. The coin has a face value of one New Zealand dollar (issued by Niue) and features the right-facing bust of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley on the obverse.

Coin comes complete in its original packaging with COA, but please note that the capsule is noticably scratched, particularly on the obverse.