Exciting new NCLT Coins

By Dan Lewis | Mon, 5 Feb 2007

Exciting new NCLT issues have arrived from Armenia, Belarus and Niue, each with unique subject matter.

Just issued, a rectangular 100 Dram brilliant uncirculated silver crown that honors Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky (July 29, 1817 - May 5, 1900), a Russianpainter of Armenian descent, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings. Similar in size and design to the now famous Polish Painters series, this coin is a great addition to some of the NCLTs that have recently been issued by authority of the Republic of Armenia.

Not to be outdone, Belarus has just released it?s version of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights on a legal tender coin.  Honoring the medieval Persian literary epic which tells the story of Scheherazade, a Sassanid Queen, who relates a series of stories to her malevolent husband, King Shahryar in order to delay her execution. The stories are told over a period of one thousand and one nights, and every night she ends the story with a suspenseful situation, leading the King to keep her alive for another day. The individual stories were created over many centuries, by many people and in many styles, and many have become famous in their own right. Notable examples include Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor.  This brilliant uncirculated legal tender 20 Roubles piece is minted from 28.28 grams of oxidized silver and embedded with a blue zircon.

It is sure to become a classic with collectors of NCLTs and world coins.

Last, but certainly not least, is the latest release from Niue, marking the Chinese Lunar Series Year of the Pig.  As legend would have it, it was Buddha himself who gave each animal its place in the Asian zodiac. When he called all the animals together following the creation, only twelve felt it necessary to attend the meeting. As a reward for their effort in making the long journey, Buddha offered each of them their own year, which would from then on bear the name of that animal. In addition, each animal was also given the opportunity to directly influence history during that time - and thus, in turn, the fate of those humans born in that year.

Analogous to the characteristics of the respective animal symbol, and by means of your date of birth, you too can read those characteristic traits that may - or may not - apply to you. 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 -- People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don't talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep.