1oz 2022 $2 Silver Athena Owl Coin

The Niue Athena Owl Series is not only an exciting collection inspired by an ancient coin design, but it is also one of the few stackable silver coins in the world that is issued on an annual basis. Introduced in 2017, the series continues to attract more investors with each release. – The design of the Niue Athena Owl coin is based on the Athenian tetradrachm coin. This form of silver currency was introduced around 525 BCE as the city-states of Greece transitioned from the didrachm to the tetradrachm. By 499 BCE, the design of the tetradrachms featured a right-profile bust of Athena on one side, with the owl of Athena on the other. The design used today is an exact replica of that ancient design.

Obverse

On the obverse of 2022 Niue Athena Owl Stackable Silver Coins is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. This right-profile relief was created in 1998 by Ian Rank-Broadley and served as the Queens fourth-generation portrait from 1998 to 2015 on British coins. The design field includes a hammered background with inscriptions of ELIZABETH II, NIUE, TWO DOLLARS, and 2022.

Reverse

The reverse of the 2022 Athena Owl Stackable Silver Coin comes with a depiction of the owl of Athens. The design shows the owl perched on a branch with wide, hollow eyes. There is a crescent moon above the owl, an olive sprig behind it, and inscriptions of 1 OZ .999 FINE SILVER. The Greek inscription of AOE featured on this side of the coin is an abbreviation of a Greek term that translates roughly into English of the Athenians.

History

Niue Athena Owl Stackable Silver Coins were introduced in 2017. The coins have been issued annually since that time and come with interlocking teeth along the edge of the design field on the obverse and reverse. This allows the coins to be safely stacked together.