Obverse: The centre of the coin features a crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The surrounding inscriptions include “ELIZABETH II”, “TOKELAU”, the year of issue “2022” and the face value “5 DOLLARS”. The portrait is enclosed within a decorative circle, giving the coin an elegant and classical appearance.
Reverse: The centre of the coin depicts Europa, a figure from ancient Greek mythology, seated on the back of a powerful bull. The bull represents the god Zeus, who transformed himself into a white bull, abducted Europa and carried her to the island of Crete. In the background, the rising sun casts its rays across the sea horizon. The upper part bears the inscription “GODDESS EUROPA”, while the lower part displays the coin's weight and silver purity “1 oz. 999.9 Fine Silver”.
About the coin: Issued in 2022 on behalf of Tokelau, the “Goddess Europa” silver coin is dedicated to one of the most famous myths of ancient Greece, traditionally associated with the origin of the name of the European continent. According to legend, Zeus fell in love with the Phoenician princess Europa and transformed himself into a beautiful white bull to approach her. When Europa climbed onto his back, Zeus carried her across the sea to the island of Crete. This myth has inspired European painters, sculptors and writers for centuries, while the image of Europa and the bull has become one of the most recognisable motifs of classical mythology. The coin was manufactured by the Bulgarian precious metals company Bulmint. It is struck from .9999 fine silver, weighs 1 troy ounce (31.1 g), measures 38.6 mm in diameter, and has a face value of 5 New Zealand dollars. The coin has a BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) finish and a limited mintage of 100,000 pieces. Its expressive mythological design and limited mintage add to its collectible appeal.
