Tiny island nation gets Star Wars currency

The tiny Pacific nation of Niue is having a new set of coins with Star War characters emblazoned on them.

However, the 2000 residents of Niue, which uses New  Zealand currency is unlikely to use the $NZ2 coin for their regular shopping as it is worth way more than its value, Australia’s Herald Sun reported.

The legendary film series - which has influenced literature, music, toys and popular culture for decades – is set make its first appearance on legal tender by November this year.

The coin set, which includes eight one-ounce silver coins and 10 silver-plated metal coins, has colour images of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader and other Star Wars characters.

The Niuean government effigy will be embossed on the coins and the heavily aid-dependent nation will get an undisclosed royalty payment from New Zealand Mint for its involvement in the project.

The set will retail for about $450 and is expected to be hugely popular with both coin collectors and Star Wars devotees worldwide.

Only 7,500 copies of each coin will be made, with the first sets to be made available in November.