Darth Liberace puts in a silver foil appearance with the strangest Star Wars issue yet

FOILPACKAGE

It’s certainly been the year of the foil at the New Zealand Mint. They have expended a lot of effort into popularising this relatively new format, and with their large and varied media properties, they’re better placed than others to do so. We’ve already seen plenty of Disney and Star Trek foils, and obviously Star Wars has had plenty of attention. It’s to this latter franchise that the latest, and most unusual foil to date, belongs.

Disney Season’s Greetings Christmas coins have been a regular fixture for the last few years, so the mint has decided to transfer the concept to the sci-fi franchise with a foil. Depicting Darth Vader playing a fireside piano, it’s quite a surreal piece and definitely shows a sense of humour. It comes packaged in a holder designed like a Christmas card, in which the words ‘Humbug’ and ‘Merry Sithmas’ are printed.

As one of the 5 gram foils, it’s eminently more affordable than the bigger premium format used for the movie posters, so there’s definitely appeal here for the gift market, but we can imagine many not liking it. The foil is something new, however, and on that basis is always welcome. We’d love your views on this one. I can’t decide if I love it or hate it, to be honest. Available today for around forty bucks US.

DESIGN: This inaugural Star Wars Season’s Greetings 5g Silver Coin Note incorporates both colour and engraving, and features a wholesome image of the Sith Lord™, Darth Vader™, embracing the Christmas spirit by the fireplace. Look closely and you’ll find more Star Wars characters featured humorously in the design.  The Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the monetary denomination, and the 2018 year-date are shown on the foil’s obverse.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $1 New Zealand (Niue Island)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 5.0 grams
DIMENSIONS 148.0 x 98.0 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated
MINTAGE 10,000
BOX / COA Yes / Yes