Silver Coin Dwelling Taniwha: Water 2025, 1 ounce

The mintage of the silver investment coin has been limited to 10,000 pieces.

The Maori world contains many mythological references to supernatural beings and entities inhabiting the ao wairua (spiritual realm). Taniwha occupy an important place in these myths as powerful beings that can have both positive and negative effects on people and the environment. Although often depicted as terrifying in appearance, they can take many different forms. Taniwha are also known to inhabit the ao kikokiko (material, earthly world), and numerous stories about them have been passed down through oral tradition. These stories give the names and locations of taniwha, as well as describing the form and appearance that each one takes. There are also waiata (songs) and haka (dances) attributed to specific taniwha. In their earthly form, taniwha often have an elemental nature, such as wood, wind, water, or stone. Whether they are heavenly or earthly beings, taniwha are a special part of Māori te ao and the culture of the peoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

The graphic depicts a taniwha in its aquatic form. We see a circular composition with a powerful, writhing creature with a scaly body, partly resembling a dragon or sea reptile, as its central motif. The taniwha seems to emerge from the water or be inextricably linked to it – numerous spiral lines and wavy ornaments symbolize the river, the current, and the element of water. This is a direct reference to Maori beliefs, according to which taniwha often inhabit rivers, lakes, and moana (the ocean), including the Waikato River. The obverse features an image of King Charles III and the date of issue.