Continuing one of the few non-pop culture series the NZ Mint currently releases, Queen Cleopatra is the third in the ‘Women of History’ series of one-ounce silver coins. The series is casting a wide net, starting with the early 20th century Polish-French physicist, Marie Curie, then jumping back in time to feature the British warrior queen, Boudicca.

With Cleopatra, they’re obviously staying in the ancient world, and given the massive furore over Netflix’s ill advised rewriting of Egyptian history with their new show, it’s a timely release. Cleopatra is an absolute icon of antiquity, and her tragic story of intrigue and opportunism is known to all. Her depiction on the coin is a typical one, a classic beauty, possibly a bit removed from reality if coin effigies of the period are anything to go by. Acoloured image sits over a proof background, complete with her inscribed ankh.

The obverse features the national coat-of-arms of Niue, the mint having moved away from the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II for obvious reasons, but not yet having adopted one of King Charles III. The coin is nicely presented with a COA, and has a mintage of 2,000 pieces. It’s available to buy now.