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Niue, a tiny speck of land with a population of about 1,400 that lies 2,400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, receives a royalty on every coin sold, which is expected to deliver revenues of more than US$4.5 million over the next 10 years.
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Niue is in the news for a reason that has nothing to do with it directly!
A US father accused of kidnapping his son and sailing to Niue has been arrested http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11353439&ref=NZH_Tw …
An American father accused of kidnapping his nine-year-old son and sailing from Seattle to the tiny South Pacific island of Niue on a 10-metre sailboat has been arrested after a search co-ordinated by the FBI and New Zealand authorities.
Jeffrey Hanson, 46, an experienced sailor, had been in a bitter custody dispute over his son with his ex-wife and was accused in court papers of being mentally unstable and a methamphetamine user.
He set sail on his sailboat, the Draco, from Seattle in early September with son Billy, telling friends he was heading to Mexico.
The FBI’s legal attache in Canberra forwarded missing person and wanted posters to the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), a multi-national law enforcement network of which the Niue Police Department is a member.
The FBI also issued alerts down the US west coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico.
But it was when Niue police went public with the search that locals provided the crucial tip that led authorities to Billy and Hanson last Wednesday.
Draco was found docked on Niue shores.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11353439&ref=NZH_Tw
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One of these coins will cost you NZ$799 (S$798) although their denomination in Niue dollars is only $25!
Mickey Mouse currency a money spinner for tiny Niue http://goo.gl/VpLq88
WELLINGTON – The Pacific nation of Niue has released new coins with images of Disney characters on one side and Queen Elizabeth II on the other – and no, they’re not taking the mickey.
The solid gold and silver coins produced by the New Zealand Mint are legal tender in the tiny Polynesian island, although experts say it is unlikely any will be used as currency as the precious metal they contain is worth far more than their nominal face value.
“It would be the height of financial folly to buy one of these products and then redeem it at face value for a fraction of that value, although I’m sure any Niuean shopkeeper would be anxious to hold onto the coins if you did,” New Zealand Mint chief executive Simon Harding told AFP.
Harding said the target market was the numismatics community, avid coin collectors constantly on the lookout for something different.
He said a 1,000-coin run of one-ounce (28.3 grams) silver Donald Duck coins recently sold out in seven minutes.
The most expensive coins currently available are made from a quarter ounce (7.1 grams) of gold and feature a variety of Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Minnie Mouse.
They retail for NZ$799 (S$798) although their denomination in Niue dollars is only $25.
Harding said the mint plans to release a Disney coin on Niue’s behalf next month that contains one kilogram of gold.
Details of the issue have not yet been released but the gold bullion in the coin is worth US$40,000 alone and only 28 will be made.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/world/mickey-mouse-currency-money-spinner-tiny-niue#xtor=CS1-4
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BBC World Service 
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Lawyers Weekly The island of Niue, near NZ, produces collectable ‘Disney $’ to promote itself to tourists: http://ab.co/1uEpaUV
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Niue Pokemon Legal Coins
http://avaxnews.net/wow/niue_pokemon_legal_coins.html
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weehingthong 