Silver coin 3 Oz Queen's Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit is the name of a famous chess opening, which features on this exceptional silver coin from the modern mint Mint XXI.

Chess was an integral part of aristocratic culture during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was not merely a pastime, however, it was an art that every proper knight was expected to master; it was used to teach military strategy, and thus earned the epithet the royal game. Chess pieces were also used to preach morality, with the different types of pieces symbolising various strata of human society and their rights or duties. At the very top, of course, stood the king and queen… Among the most popular ways to start the game is the Queen’s Gambit. Right at the start, the player offers up a pawn as a potential sacrifice in order to gain better control of the centre of the board. They do not rely on a direct attack, but apply cunning pressure…

The reverse side of the coin depicts the Queen’s Gambit on a gold-plated chessboard surrounded by a series of figures. These rulers, warriors and others symbolise not only chess players, but also the chess pieces themselves. The pieces can also be found on the obverse side, where they complement the issuer’s attributes, which means the coat of arms of the island of Niue, the year 2026 and the nominal value of 7 DOLLARS (NZD). All of this is set off in high relief, accentuated by a patina.

The coin, minted from three ounces of fine silver, has a mintage of just 500 pieces.