Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda and a cast of other heroes and villains from a galaxy far, far away, will join the Queen on coins issued by the South Pacific island state of Niue.
Niue, a remote Polynesian state of only 1,400 people, is producing a set of 40 coins. While Star Wars characters are depicted in colour on the reverse of the new coins, a traditional effigy of the Queen by the sculptor Raphael Maklouf dominates the obverse.
As legal tender, the coins will have a face value of NZ$2 (£1), but the silver content in each is worth considerably more than that.
Sets of four, each containing 1oz of silver, will sell for NZ$469 (£235).
Others struck in silver-plated base metal will cost much less.
The coins are primarily aimed at collectors and investors around the world in a bid to boost Niue's flagging government coffers.
"You wouldn't want to go and spend them because they're only worth $2, but the value is much more than that," said Chris Kirkness of the New Zealand Mint.
"Traditionally, who would buy these would be coin collectors, but this product opens up the market as a gift product for enthusiasts of Star Wars," he said.
Star Wars rapidly developed a cult following after first appearing on cinema screens in May 1977, and spawned a huge merchandising industry.
Underlining the target market, the first issue goes on display at the American Numismatics Association's show in Chicago next week.
Further coins will be released until 2014.




据英国《每日电讯报》8月11日报道，南太平洋岛国纽埃将要发行印有《星球大战》诸多善恶角色形象的货币，来自遥远星际的黑武士、天行者卢克以及尤达大师将要和女王肖像一起出现在硬币上。

地理位置遥远且仅有1400人的波利尼西亚国家纽埃正在制造一组40枚的新硬币。星战角色的彩照将被印在钱币的背面， 正面依然是雕塑家拉斐尔•马克鲁夫笔下的传统女王肖像。

作为法定货币，新硬币面值2新元（折合1英镑），但是每枚的含银量却比这一面值更加昂贵。
本次发行的硬币1套4枚，每枚含银量为1盎司的硬币将要价469新元（折合235英镑）。发行的其他镀银硬币，造价会低很多。

这套硬币是为增加该国财政收入而设，主要销售对象为各国的收藏家和投资者。

新西兰造币厂的克里斯•坎克尼斯说："你不会因为他们面值2美元而去用它们消费，因为其背后的价值远远这个数。"

"通常，购买这些物品的人可能都是货币收藏家，但这一硬币却打开了针对星战迷的礼品市场"， 他说。
《星球大战》自1977年5月上映以来，就迅速地积累了一大批疯狂粉丝。并催生了一个巨大的相关产品市场。

主攻目标市场，首套硬币将在下周参加于芝加哥举行的美国货币协会展览。

其他的硬币将在2014年发行。

• remote [ri´məut] a.遥远的；偏僻的 (初中英语单词)
• reverse [ri´və:s] v.颠倒；(使)反向 (初中英语单词)
• pacific [pə´sifik] a.和平的；温和的 (高中英语单词)
• considerably [kən´sidərəbli] ad.显著地；十分 (高中英语单词)
• traditional [trə´diʃənəl] a.传统的，习惯的 (英语四级单词)
• sculptor [´skʌlptə] n.雕刻家，雕刻家 (英语四级单词)
• primarily [´praimərəli, prai´merəli] ad.首先；主要地 (英语四级单词)
• chicago [ʃi´kɑ:gəu] n.芝加哥 (英语四级单词)