Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Yoda are among Star Wars characters who will appear on coins that will be legal tender in the Pacific island of Niue. A collection of four silver $2 coins costs NZ$469 (£240) while silver-plated $1 coins cost NZ$23.50 (£12) each. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens and Queen Elizabeth II, who appears on the reverse of coins, is head of state. Coin-issuer New Zealand Mint said they were gift products and would not be used “to go buy an ice cream with”.
The first 10 silver-plated Star Wars coins will be available in November with a further 30 to be issued in the future. A maximum of 50,000 copies of each silver-plated coin will be produced. No more than 7,500 of each of the silver coins – which contain 1oz of the precious metal – will be produced. In April, Niue premier Toke Talagi defended stamps celebrating the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton which featured a perforated line that split the couple.
