2025 Niue $2 Kings of Sting - Tarantula Hawk 1oz Silver Coin

“Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair dryer has been dropped into your bubble bath. A bolt out of the heavens. Lie down and scream.” – Justin Schmidt, The Pain Index.                              

Imagine peacefully walking the trails of the Grand Canyon when you see a small bird flying towards you. Playfully, you stick out a finger for the bird to perch but, too late, you realise… that’s not a bird! That’s a gigantic wasp! And then, for what feels like hours, there is only pain… You’ve been stung by the Tarantula Hawk!

The first in a coin series examining the most painful stings of the insect world – the Kings of Sting! – this one ounce, 99.9% pure silver coin features the Tarantula Hawk. Boldly coloured and huge, at 6.5cm in length (slightly bigger than your pinkie finger!) in real life, the Tarantula Hawk is so-called because it has a habit of hunting Tarantula spiders!