In 2000, Charles Shultz's Peanuts Comic strip achieved its 50th Anniveresary. The Island of Niue authorized the minting of One Dollar coins to commemorate the event. Snoopy and Woodstock are featured on the reverse sitting atop Snoopy's dog house. The obverse side of this 39mm copper-nickel coin features Queen Elizabeth II. Niue is a small island nation in the south Pacific, but has no ties to Polynesia. Niue on the Globe (Wikipedia photo): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Niue_on_the_globe_(Polynesia_centered).svg Though self governing, Niue is in free association with New Zealand, and lacks full sovereignty. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens and Queen Elizabeth II is Niue's Head of State. Most diplomatic relations are conducted by New Zealand on Niue's behalf. In 2003, Niue became the world's first "WiFi nation", in which free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country by The Internet Users Society-Niue. Niue was originally named Savage Island by Captain James Cook, who landed there in 1774, because of the hostility of the natives. Missionaries began arriving in the 1830's and eventually converted the population to Christianity. The island has a population of only about 2200. Its main sources of income are the export of bananas, copra, handicrafts and selling coins to collectors. Coin photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coine_as.php?image=nmc6/233-115&desc=Niuekm1151Dollar(2000)50yrs.Peanuts&query=Niuekm115 Did you know? Clinker
Hmm, I try not to collect too many NCLT pieces, but this one ... if I feel the urge to buy it, I will blame you. Also, thanks for providing the background info, Clinker. By the way, Belgium and France have also issued comic strip coins. Will see if I can come up with pictures. (Edit: Got them ...) Belgium - 75th anniversary of the first "Tintin and Snowy" comic strip by Hergé (2004) http://www.catawiki.com/catalog/coins/countries/belgium/500893-10-euro-belgium-2004-tintin-1929-2004 Belgium - 100th anniversary of Hergé's birth (2007) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2007_Belgium_20_Euro_100_years_Herge_front.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2007_Belgium_20_Euro_100_years_Herge_back.JPG Belgium - 50 years of "Les Schtroumpfs"/"De Smurfen" created by Peyo (2008) http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/nmc5/18-5e08.jpg France - 100th anniversary of Hergé's birth (2007) http://www.ma-shops.de/schimmer/pic/21ge9187p.jpg (six different denominations and/or designs) France - The Asterix series (2007) http://www.muenzauktion.com/witte/pic/00004318a.jpg http://www.muenzauktion.com/witte/pic/00004318.jpg (seven different d/d) France - 70 years of "Spirou" created by Robert Velter (2008) http://www.muenzkatalog-online.de/katalog/muenzen/muenze_5091.html (two different d/d) France - Blake & Mortimer, by Edgar P. Jacobs (2010) http://muenzen-shops.de/witte/pic/x_36263a.jpg (two different d/d) Christian
Thanks Christian for sharing those Belgium and French Euro coins bearing honor to both artist and and comic strip... Thanks randygeki, green18 and KoinJester for reading and your favorable comments... Clinker
