When Pikachu Became Official Currency in the Pacific

Picture this: you're on a remote Pacific island, pulling out a coin to buy something, and staring back at you is Pikachu's cheerful face. Not a token from an arcade. Not a novelty item. Actual legal tender.

In 2001, the island nation of Niue did something no country had done before—they put Pokémon on their official currency. And not just Pikachu. The collection included Meowth, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander, each on their own copper-nickel $1 coin.

Where Even Is Niue?

Niue is a self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand, floating in the South Pacific about 1,500 miles northeast of New Zealand. With a population hovering around 1,500 people, it's one of the world's smallest countries. They use the New Zealand dollar for everyday transactions, but Niue has the right to mint its own commemorative coins as official legal tender.

And oh, did they ever take advantage of that right.

Why Pokémon?

By 2001, Pokémon mania had swept the globe. The games, trading cards, and anime had created a cultural phenomenon, and Niue—likely working with the New Zealand Mint and Perth Mint—saw an opportunity. These weren't bootleg coins or tourist trinkets. They were properly licensed by Nintendo, complete with official Pokémon branding and copyright marks.

Each coin was worth exactly 1 New Zealand dollar. You could theoretically spend them at face value in Niue, though good luck finding one in actual circulation. These coins were designed for collectors, not grocery stores.

The Collector Frenzy

Pokémon fans and coin collectors immediately lost their minds. The coins became hot commodities almost overnight. While their face value was just $1 NZD, some Pikachu coins have sold for over $1,000 on the collector's market, especially high-grade specimens certified by coin grading services.

The 2001 series wasn't a one-off either. Niue continued producing Pokémon coins in 2002 and has since become known for issuing creative commemorative currency featuring everything from Disney characters to Star Wars.

But Pokémon came first. Niue will forever hold the title of being the first country to put Pikachu on money. In a world of boring coins featuring dead monarchs and generic national symbols, that's actually pretty refreshing.

So yes, somewhere in the Pacific, Pikachu is legal tender. And honestly? That feels right.