2018 STAR TREK ORIGINAL SERIES by New Zealand Mint

With the earlier launch of a new series of Star Wars silver coin notes, the New Zealand Mint are clearly invested in this new format for 2018. What has surprised us however, is their first foray into Star Trek, usually the preserve of the Perth and Royal Canadian mints, with the debut of a whole new series. Using the relatively new coin note format for their debut with Star Trek is a clever choice as it’s about the only type of coin that hasn’t been available until now for the cult sci-fi phenomenon.

Five grams of fine silver in weight and an expansive 150 x 70 mm in size, silver coin notes have plenty of space to showcase artwork. Because a thickness less than a human hair precludes any relief, it falls to colour and engraving to do the work. Captain James Tiberius Kirk was the subject of the first release and the design features the character in a couple of poses, along with an image of the ultra-iconic USS Enterprise orbiting a planet. The design ethos put in place here is closely followed on the subsequent issues as it works its way through the most popular characters.

The obverse is a banknote-style series of patterns with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II in the centre. It’s similar to, but slightly different from the Star Wars coin. Overall, these are bright, colourful and bang on topic. If the format appeals we can’t see a Star Trek fan being disappointed with them. There’s one more coin to this series than the A New Hope set – Star Trek: The Original Series running to seven issues.

Each coin is sealed to prevent handling damage and comes in a slipcase. This first coin also comes with an album into which all seven Original Series coins will fit. That’s a great idea and plenty of encouragement for collectors to get a set together. At $39.00 USD per coin, they’re eminently affordable compared to a usual one-ounce coin, and thus more attractive to the casual movie memorabilia collector. That’s a large market and these could well bring in new numismatic collectors.

2018 STAR TREK ORIGINAL SERIES COIN NOTES

MINTS DESCRIPTION

This first striking 5g pure silver coin note in the Star Trek Original Series Collection features images of Captain Kirk and U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701.

A Star Trek Original Series Collector’s Album is included with purchase. Inside a protective cover, this hardcover album includes a page for each of the seven coin notes in the collection which will include Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov. The album is Star Trek themed, with each page designed to complement the corresponding note – including a biography of each character.

The design is brought to life through the use of engraving and colour printing. The unique number in the mintage is also printed on each coin note.

The obverse of the note features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is legal tender in Niue.

This single silver coin note is housed inside a protective sleeve which includes details of the note’s authenticity.

OBVERSE

PACKAGING

Obviously, these are far larger than a coin and capsules aren’t really an option for the ultra-thin coin note format, so the New Zealand Mint decision to provide an album for the series is a fine one. Stiff covered and provided with a slipcase to hold it, the album is fully themed throughout and contains a two-page spread for each issue – one side carrying a description of the coin, the other holding the coin safely and securely.

One important point to note however, the album is completely free with the first coin, but will not be available seperately and will not be provided with any other coin. If you’re going to buy the set, you’ll definitely want to make sure you get the first Captain Kirk issue.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2018 STAR TREK ORIGINAL SERIES
DENOMINATION $1 New Zealand
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 5.0 grams
DIAMETER 150 x 70 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS Colour
MINTAGE 50,000 each
BOX / COA Album / On coin