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50 Dollars - Elizabeth II Boris Becker
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 1987 |
| Type | Collector coin |
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| Obverse description | The quartered coat of arms of Niue occupies the central field, surmounted by a Tudor crown. The shield displays the Southern Cross stars in the upper left quarter, ships of the Royal Navy in the upper and lower centre quarters, a native figure in the upper right quarter, a sheaf in the lower left quarter, and crossed pickaxes in the lower right quarter. The arms are flanked by two fern fronds as supporters. The legend NIUE appears along the upper left rim and the date 1987 along the upper right rim in Latin characters. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A dynamic half-length portrait of tennis champion Boris Becker dominates the field, depicted in the act of serving, his right arm raised triumphantly and his left hand gripping a tennis racket. The denomination 50 DOLLARS is inscribed in the upper centre of the field. A circular legend surrounds the design, referencing the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and Becker's Wimbledon titles, with the word TENNIS appearing inverted along the lower rim, consistent with medal alignment. |
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| Additional information |
Niue's entry into the commemorative coin market came through a licensing arrangement that turned the tiny Pacific island's nominal sovereignty into a vehicle for foreign coin producers — this Boris Becker piece was part of an early wave of such issues capitalizing on Becker's back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 1985 and 1986. The coins were not intended for Niuean circulation and were marketed directly to collectors in Europe, particularly West Germany, where Becker had become a national phenomenon after winning the 1985 championship as an unseeded 17-year-old.
The .625 fineness is notably sub-sterling, an unusual alloy choice that kept production costs down on what was essentially a novelty issue.