JTA affiliate SWNZ sends us an update on the "legal tender" Star Wars coins. Check out their update by clicking through!

Back in August we covered the press release from NZ Mint about the legal tender Star Wars coins being produced for Niue. They are now starting to be distributed and, because they are made locally, we've got a couple in hand and are able to share photos.

Close inspection reveals a few aspects not immediately evident in the early promotional images. The coins ship shrink-wrapped to a cardboard backer. The backing cards are specific to the character on the coin, with a brief bio listed along with the descriptive details of the coin (weight, size, uncirculated condition etc) and an edition number (out of the 50,000 issued per design). The feature face of the coin portrays an original trilogy hero or villain in full colour - the character sculpt is actually recessed and subtly embossed (more noticable with some characters than others). The obverse side of the coin exhibits Raphael Maklouf's portrait of the Queen Elizabeth II.

News story: http://swnz.dr-maul.com/moretext.php?request=20111214
Forum discussion: http://swnz.dr-maul.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=552