2014 - Niue 1 NZD Silver Coin Summer Snowflake - Proof

It is a pity that this perennial herb which usually blooms during warm spring and summer days ranks among species disappearing from our planet. In the collector series Threatened Nature endangered plants and animals included in Red Lists of Endangered Species are preserved on silver Smart coins. Czech Mint regularly presents species that you can still see in the Czech Republic and the April issue of silver Smart coin is dedicated namely to the delicate Summer snowflake.

The obverse side of the Smart coin features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, denomination of the coin: 1 Dollar, the year of issue: 2014, the country: Niue Island and lovely flower ornament. On the reverse side there is beautifully laid out coloured motif of the Summer snowflake complemented in the upper part with a colour bead.

Summer snowflake, in Latin Leucojum aestivum, begins to bloom from April and has smaller flowers than its closest relative – Spring snowflake. Tiny flowers are nodding, from 3 up to 7 per umbel, on a very tall stem. On the contrary, Spring snowflake usually forms no more than one bud.

Summer snowflake is native to most of Europe, it is also considered native up to South East Asia. It was naturalized and spread in some places also in North America. In the Czech Republic it commonly occurs only in South Moravia. In other places it either disappeared, or it was artificially planted. Among Czech flora it is a critically endangered species – falling in C1 category.