Mint of Poland

1 Dollar (Niue Island)

28,28

41

Silver 925°

10 000

Proof, a transparent insert containing a little horseshoe

Dobrochna Tamara Surajewska

Mint of Poland

Obverse: In the bottom part of the coin, to the let – an ins ert made up of a transparent capsule containing a horseshoe, next to the image of horse-shoes, at the top – the likeness of the Queen, with the inscription around the edge: “ELIZABETH II, NIUE ISLAND” (issuer), mint’s mark “MW”. At the bottom, along the edge – the following inscription “1 DOLLAR 2010” (face val ue, year of issue). Reverse: At the top of the coin, in the background – the images of clovers, in the central part of the coin – the images of horseshoes, at the bottom, to the right, – a transparent insert containing a little horseshoe.

The horseshoe has been the most widely recognized symbol of good luck. Horseshoes were used to protect horse hooves as early as in the ancient times. Horses lost their shoes with time and the inders thought that since they protected the horses they could also be protecting people from bad luck –hence the tradition of nailing horseshoes to the doors of houses and stables. The shape of the horseshoe had tremendous meaning, too, crescent-like, widely believed to be a symbol of happiness and fertility. To Christians its shape was like the letter C, thus being a symbol of Christ. In the Middle Ages the horseshoe continued to be treated as a charm. It was believed that when accidentally found, it brought good luck. It was paramount that it was hung with the ends pointing upwards so the good luck it held did not get out of it.