2019-05-28 Tue

Perth Mint released a 2oz Silver Antiqued Coin as Tuvalu legal tender to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1979 blockbuster movie Alien. Perth Mint has produced only one more coloured antiqued coin like this one before. The 62.213 g .9999 Silver Proof coin has a diameter of 40.60 mm, a thickness of 6.42 mm and a mintage limit of 1,500 pieces. It has a face value of 2 Tuvaluan Dollars and mintmark “P” for Perth Mint.

Designed by Perth Mint artist Jennifer McKenna, the reverse side features the head of an adult alien in colour with an open mouth and sharp teeth. It’s “face hugger” larval form is superimposed on the main design. The background is black, “face hugger” is grey and alien is green. The obverse side depicts an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadly. Other inscriptions on the obverse include weight and fineness, denomination and year-date. The handcrafted antique finish adds extra abrasions for enhanced fine detail and look.

The coin comes in a coloured egg-shaped case like oval pods in which alien life first appeared along with Nostromo landing party. The case has four pink petal-shaped membranes to replicate the alien egg’s hatching process. The coin is inside an acrylic case with a crack and rises as the egg opens. Finally, it is packed in a themed shipper along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the science fiction horror movie Alien starring Sigourney Weaver, won an Oscar for Visual Effects. The movie artistically narrates the story of a scary extraterrestrial in space. It earned $80 million in the US and $105 million worldwide. Many other films based on aliens were made after the film’s tremendous success at the box-office.

Image Courtesy: Perth Mint