2013 - Niue 1 NZD Silver Coin Cypripedium Calceolus - Proof

Smart coins series “Endangered Nature“
The Endangered Nature series feature silver Smart coins depicting plants and animals included in Red Lists of endangered species. We focus especially on those occurring in the Czech Republic, and from time to time in the neighbouring countries. Cypripedium calceolus (or Lady’s Slipper) is a long-lived perennial from the orchidaceae family, commonly known as the orchid family. It usually grows from 20 to 45cm tall. The stem grows from a strong creepy rhizome, most often each stem has 3–4 leaves, which are strongly pleated and often have upcurved sides. Flowers on Lady’s Slipper appear from May to August, most often there is one huge showy flower with maroon long petals, seldom green-yellow with crimson dots or lines. In the Czech Republic, Lady’s Slipper ranges most in the area of Džbán in the foothills of Orlické mountains, the Czech Highlands, the Pošumaví region and in Moravia.
The obverse side features the denomination of the coin (1 Dollar), the year of issue (2013), the country Niue Island, the effigy of Queen Elizabeth and a plant motif. Cypripedium calceolus in colour is depicted on the reverse side, adorned with a red glass bead.