2021 Niue Japanese Dragon Watatsumi 2oz Silver Antique Finish Coin

This coin series from Mint of Poland has taken a winding route around them, starting with the popular Chinese and Norse legends, but then heading off to Mesoamerica, with an Aztec interpretation. For this fourth coin, we’re in Japan, and the style of this legendary mythical beast, has changed again. There are certainly heavy shades of Chinese representations here, but it has many unique elements tied in with Japan’s nautical leaning, typical of an island nation.

The Watatsumi is not only a Japanese dragon, but also a water deity, and the designer has emphasized this with some very Hokusai-like waves, and the Piscean tail at the end of its body. The wings are classic dragon, and the serpentine body and whiskers, classic Asian style. Topping it off is the inset pearl, something almost inextricably tied to the dragon myth in the region. Throw in a Japanese pagoda building, and you have a scene that is quintessentially Japanese.

The obverse is the common one that’s adorned the previous three issues, complete with the arcing border of silhouettes over a scaled background, filling a wide border. There are ten of them, although only five unique depictions, with each appearing in positive and negative form, perhaps indicating this is the penultimate coin in the series.

A two-ounce silver coin, packed with high-relief and struck by the Mint of Poland, it’s another beautiful entrant in a very attractive series. Dragons are always popular, and it’s hard to make something distinct, but the Mint of Poland have certainly pulled it off this time. The mintage is capped at 500 units, and the coin comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity.