2003 New Zealand The Lord of the Rings Gold Proof Ten Dollars

New Zealand. Queen Elizabeth II. 2003 One Ring Ten Dollars. 22ct Gold. 38.61mm and 39.94g. 1.177oz AGW. With Case and Certificate of Authenticity. KM#144. 

The Ring of Power, wrought by the Dark Lord Sauron to conquer the free peoples of Middle-earth, has now been found. It grants great powers to its bearer - invisibility and long life-yet also it corrupts and deceives, luring the wearer to its own dark will for it is a part of the Dark Lord and his evil is in it.

Presented with the original packaging of issue, an elegant glossy varnished wooden presentation box, a Certificate of Authenticity, and an outer protective black box. An official mintage of 1148 by the Royal Mint in partnership with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, but a lesser amount of surviving examples due to a number of them being damaged and melted over the years.