Niue: Major League Baseball Features on New MLB® Team Logos Silver Proof Coin Series

The Treasury of Niue release a new series of collector coins featuring six of Major League Baseball’s most iconic teams.

by Michael Alexander | Published on January 13, 2025

The Major League Baseball (MLB) organisation is the governing body and highest level of organised baseball in the United States and Canada. Comprising 30 teams, the entity is divided equally between the National League - NL and the American League - AL with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. Formed in 1876 and 1901, respectively, the NL and AL cemented their cooperation with a National Agreement in 1903, which makes Major League Baseball the oldest major professional sports league in the world. 

The game which is nationally known as America’s favourite past time gained great popularity in the early 1860’s aided by soldiers who played the game in their campsites during the Civil War. As such, baseball played by "New York"-style rules expanded into a national game and spawned the game's first governing body, the National Association of Base Ball Players – NABBP which existed as an amateur league from 1871 and lasting 12 years. Baseball's first all-professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, founded in 1869 was the NABBP’s first team to become members. Today, The MLB are in discussions to expand the franchise to other American and Canadian cities such as Austin, Charlotte, Montreal, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh, Sacramento and Salt Lake City.

The irregularly-shaped coins are produced by the New Zealand Mint at their facilities in Auckland on behalf of the Treasury of Niue. The obverse side features a recreation of the original logo designed in 1947 by Henry Alonzo Keller, the logo which includes a top hat reminiscent of ‘Uncle Sam’ and baseball bat symbolising unity and superiority in the game, embodying the name, sport and national commitment. The design is shown in full vivid colour. The reverse side includes a recreation of the current MLB logo positioned towards the top half of the coin. Below, the denomination FIVE DOLLARS and name of the issuing authority NIUE and year 2025 separated by the official crest of the state of Niue. Along the lower rim are the coins’ specifications – 3 oz .999 FINE SILVER NEW ZEALAND MINT / MLB 2025.

Included in the series are the teams Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.

Denomination Metal Weight Dimensions Quality Mintage Limit 
5 Dollars .999 Silver 93.3 g. 55 / 60.6 mm. Proof & Colour 500 

Each silver proof and colour coin is specially encapsulated to accommodate their unique shape and presented in a custom folder-type case with the certificate of authenticity affixed onto the case itself. The entire series can be viewed on the e-webshop of the New Zealand Mint – official distributors.

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Author: Michael Alexander

Michael Alexander image Michael’s background in both numismatics and banknotes spans more than three decades and whose activities have varied from being a dedicated world coin collector to coin & medal design, marketing, theme concept and production. His additional interests include banknote research and in 1997, he founded the London Banknote and Monetary Research Centre to further these interests and activities. The company continues to offer monthly currency bulletins to both online and printed publications which includes information about the latest banknote news and releases from Central Banks and Monetary Authorities around the world. Michael has been a contributor to COIN NEWS magazine based in the UK since 1998 where many of his in-depth interviews, articles and bulletins have been published.

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