Niue: Sherlock Holmes – The Sign Of Four $5 2 Ounces of Silver 2024
Niue: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign Of Four 5 Dollars 2 oz Silver 2024 is a collector coin from a series dedicated to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, struck from .999 fine silver with a weight of 2 troy ounces. The issue carries a face value of 5 Niue dollars and a diameter of 45 mm. It features an antique finish and high relief, characteristic of artistic issues. The mintage is limited to 400 pieces, with individual edge numbering.
The coin refers to the second Sherlock Holmes novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, known as “The Sign of Four.” The formal issuer is Niue, while the design and production are handled by a private mint specializing in artistic numismatics. The metal specifications include 999/1000 silver, a weight of 62.2 g, and a diameter of 45 mm. The issue set includes the coin, a collector’s case, and a numbered certificate of authenticity.
The design employs high relief and additional elements, including a three-dimensional insert and UV printing. The composition combines a realistic depiction of the figures and interior with detailed rendering of the background and props. The use of UV printing makes it possible to highlight selected elements of the scene with a colorful layer visible in daylight. A 3D insert in the shape of a pipe on the obverse serves as a spatial accent complementing the classic relief.
Obverse shows the coat of arms of Niue in the upper part of the composition, surrounded by an ornamental frame, placed above the image of Tower Bridge in London. The monumental structure of the bridge is shown in perspective, filling the central part of the coin’s field. At the lower edge of the obverse there is the inscription “5 DOLLARS NIUE 2024 2 oz Ag 999”, indicating the face value, year of issue, weight, and silver fineness. In the lower area, a three-dimensional insert in the shape of a pipe has been added, referring to the detective’s attribute.
Reverse depicts a scene inside a Victorian parlor, taken from the climactic fragment of the novel “The Sign of Four.” At the center of the composition is Sherlock Holmes in a long coat, holding a pearl with selective gilding. Beside him stand Doctor Watson in a Victorian suit and Mary Morstan in period attire, holding a document. The background is a richly furnished salon with a sofa, curtains, and a fireplace, and a section of the wall decoration is highlighted with UV printing, depicting colorful flowers. Above the figures is the arched inscription “THE SIGN OF FOUR,” and along the lower edge the detective’s name “SHERLOCK HOLMES.”