Numismatics has long ceased to be a world exclusively of regular circles, dignified profiles of rulers, elegant artistic design, and refined symbolism. Today's numismatist, like it or not, must come to terms with the fact that the boundaries of a „coin“ have been stretched to the point where we can sometimes justifiably wonder whether we are still looking at money or merely a very expensive metal figurine with a nominal value on it (just for form's sake). Heart-shaped forms, crosses, leaves, puzzles, and even coins that resemble keychains more than a medium of exchange have become a dreary standard of the modern commemorative numismatic offering.
In that colorful, grotesque world of various shapes and ideas, a special subgenre consists of completely irregularly shaped coins. If you thought a marijuana-leaf-shaped coin was the peak of that madness – you were wrong. Because just when a person thinks they have already seen everything in numismatics – enter the horse's head. Literally.
Horsehead from Niue
In the numismatic world, the small island nation of Niue is widely known for its abnormally large numismatic offering. This offering includes a silver, colorized, irregular coin from 2014, dedicated to the „Year of the Horse“ according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The very fact that the coin is from the „Chinese Lunar Year“ series, yet comes from the Pacific, speaks volumes about the global nature of modern numismatics—and its propensity for market acrobatics.
Source: Meshok [www.meshok.net].
The obverse of the coin, despite its exotic shape, remains firmly rooted in classical tradition. It features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael David Maklouf, surrounded by the usual inscriptions: the year of issue, the name of the country Niue, the face value of 1 dollar, and the silver purity mark Ag 925. Everything is very proper, neat, and serious... As if the obverse is trying to say: „No matter how I look on the outside, I am essentially still a real coin.“.
The reverse side, on the other hand, completely surrenders to the theme. Below the embossed horse's head, the neck features a color depiction of white horses running (how else), with emphasized realistic details. The inscription „YEAR OF THE HORSE 2014“ clearly conveys what it is all about. Just in case the shape by itself wasn't enough and to avoid any confusion. The overall impression is more reminiscent of a keychain or a luxury souvenir than something you would toss into your wallet without a second thought.
Technically speaking, the coin is made of .925 fine silver, weighing 28.28 grams, with a smooth rim and coin alignment. It was struck in proof quality with a colored section. The shape is, officially speaking, „irregular,“ although „horse's head“ would be considerably more honest.
Something about the issuance of this horse coin
The issue is signed by the Niue Philatelic and Numismatic Company, with the approval of the competent authority (Monetary Authority of the Government of Niue Island), while the production itself was entrusted to the German mint B.H. Mayer Mint. This guarantees a high level of technical execution, which is visible on this coin, regardless of whether you like this horse concept or not.
The maximum number of issued specimens is limited to 7,000 pieces, which places this edition in the typical category of modern coins of this type: limited enough to be considered „rare,“ but numerous enough to be widely available to the market. The face value of 1 New Zealand dollar is today, of course, a pure formality. The actual value of the coin shifts into the domain of the value of silver (as a metal), the unusual design, and the demand on the numismatic (and non-numismatic) market.
It is interesting to note how such editions rely almost entirely on the symbolism of the Chinese zodiac, which has already become a universal marketing tool today. The „Year of the Horse,“ with all its attributes (energy, ambition, strength), serves here merely as a narrative backdrop for a product targeting the global market, regardless of the buyer's cultural or geographical origin.
Where is the (numismatic) world heading?
This 2014 „Year of the Horse“ coin is a perfect example of the direction modern numismatics is moving: away from function and ever closer to form. It is simultaneously a precious metal object, a work of art, and a market product designed to catch the eye – even at the cost of a mild dose of absurdity.
Is this kind of coin shape excessive? For traditionalists, there is no dilemma. Is it technically high-quality and visually striking? Absolutely! Ultimately, editions like this should not be viewed through the prism of classical numismatics, but rather as a document of the times in which the boundaries between money, souvenirs, and something „else“ are becoming increasingly thin.
And a horse's head? It is there to remind us that in numismatics (just like in life) there is always something that can still surprise us... Both positively and negatively.
In the end, we can put a finger to our forehead and ask ourselves – is this still a coin or just very convincing proof that the imagination of modern mints has been let off the leash…
Author: Zlatko Viščević
Photos: Meshok [www.meshok.net].
