Today the most iconic symbol of an entertainment empire, Mickey Mouse was originally corrected to replace another Disney character. His predecessor was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who appeared in a large number of shorts between 1927 and 1928, but when Universal Pictures took direct creative control of the character, Disney created an alternate with a similar look. This was Mickey Mouse, who went on to have perhaps the most storied career of any cartoon character after his 1928 debut. On the occasion of nine decades passing since his emergence, the New Zealand Mint released the 2018 1/4 oz Proof Niue Gold Disney Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Coin.
Coin Highlights:
- Comes encased in black velvet in a themed 90th Anniversary box!
- Issued in 2018 by the New Zealand Mint!
- Limited original mintage of just 250 coins!
- Contains 1/4 oz of .9999 pure gold.
- Face value of $25 (NZD) as legal tender of Niue.
- Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
- Obverse field features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Reverse field features a portrait of Mickey Mouse as he appears in Steamboat Willie.
The black-and-white film Steamboat Willie, in 1928, was the public debut of both Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. It was one of the first cartoons to feature synchronized sound and a post-produced soundtrack — two trends that Walt Disney had recognized as being the future of film — and quickly became the most popular cartoon of the day. From this beginning spun out a storied career in which Mickey himself appears in eight different television series, nearly a dozen feature film,s and countless shorts, being nominated for ten Academy Awards and becoming the first cartoon character to have his own star on the Walk of Fame. He is also virtually synonymous with one of the world’s largest multinational entertainment companies.
The 2018 Proof Niue Gold Disney Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Coin pays tribute to this extraordinary legacy with a visually stunning proof finish, featuring mirrored backgrounds and frosted raised details. It ships in a themed coin case nestled in black velvet, along with a Certificate of Authenticity that identifies each coin’s unique number in the mintage.
Queen Elizabeth II features in Ian Rank-Broadley’s famous effigy on the obverse field, confirming the coin as legal tender of Niue. The late monarch is accompanied by the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II,” “NIUE,” “25 Dollars” and “2018.”
Mickey Mouse appears on the reverse field at the tiller of a steamboat and whistling, just as he appears in the Steamboat Willie short that introduced him to the public. The Disney logo appears above him and small inscriptions at the rim confirm the coin’s composition and register Disney’s copyright.
Order this gorgeous gold coin for your collection or find out more about any of our other listings when you reach out to JM Bullion. Call us at 800-276-6508, send us an e-mail, or talk with a team member at our online live chat.