The bewitching colors of the Aurora Borealis have long been known to explorers, voyagers, and residents north of the Arctic Circle, but we often don’t stop to think of the phenomenon’s southern cousin. Just as beautiful as its northern counterpart, the Aurora Australis is a captivating light show in its own right, and it can be glimpsed from land masses deep in the Southern Hemisphere such as Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand (and, of course, Antarctica for those who can manage the trip). Most easily observed during the hemisphere’s winter months from March through September, the Aurora Australis is the subject of a gorgeous new pure gold collectible from the island of Niue, the 2022 1 oz Proof Niue Gold Aurora Australis Coin.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships in a premium display case with a Certificate of Authenticity!
- Issued in 2022!
- Limited release of just 99 pieces!
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure gold.
- Face value of $100 (NZD) as legal tender of Niue.
- Obverse side features an official effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Reverse side depicts the Aurora Australis over a rocky landscape.
Much like the Northern Lights, the Aurora Australis is the product of electrically charged solar particles colliding with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to give off a glow. It’s a phenomenon that tends to form in oval-shaped patterns around the planet’s magnetic poles, which is why it’s identified with the higher latitudes in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This pure gold collectible uses a combination of high-relief engraving and innovative holographic foiling to capture the effect.
The 2022 1 oz Proof Niue Gold Aurora Australis Coin features that singular blend of artistic techniques offset against a mirror-like proof finish. Each coin comes in a premium display case with a Certificate of Authenticity that verifies its number in this exclusive limited mintage.
The obverse side features Ian Rank-Broadley’s 1998 effigy of the late monarch Queen Elizabeth II, verifying this coin as legal tender. This is accompanied by the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II,” “NIUE 2022,” “100 DOLLARS,” and “1 OZ 9999 GOLD.”
The reverse side features the prow of a small boat heading into an Antarctic inlet with crags engraved on the horizon and the Aurora Australis, rendered in holographic foil, dancing in the sky and reflected in the water below. The inscription “AURORA AUSTRALIS” appears on the boat.
Contact the team at JM Bullion if you want to learn more about any gold for sale. Call us at 800-276-6508, send us an e-mail inquiry, or chat live online with one of our agents.