Honor Guard Series: Unveiling the Polynesian Warrior Coin
Great Warriors from Across the Globe
This is Chris’ fourth coin from his Honor Guard Series. The abiding theme across all of the coins is that the warriors are enmeshed in battle and standing behind a Silver Shield defined by one of Chris’ coins.
Not only does this reflect a warrior’s need to protect himself during battle, but it symbolizes Chris’ ultimate premise that man’s best defense against his attackers continues to be a Silver Shield comprised of physical silver.
The warrior shown on this coin is Polynesian. As with nearly all warriors, they were members of tribes and were tasked with defending their chiefs, their land and their riches. Lacking nearly all modern weapons of warfare, most of the warriors became proficient with spears and in hand-to-hand combat as defined by the martial arts. Nearly every island had its own tribe, king, and warriors.
2025 "Honor Guard V4" Silver Proof Round, by Chris Duane
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania. It is comprised of over a thousand islands which are spread over the southern and central Pacific Ocean. They have also been defined as the South Sea Islands. Although the Hawaiian Islands are technically in the North Pacific, they are generally included as part of the South Sea Islands as well. New Zealand is also included in the 118,000 square miles of land that defines the region. The Polynesian Triangle is also sometimes used to describe the area. This region can be delineated on a map by connecting Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.
The Polynesian people encompassed both the Hawaiian and the Maori cultures. The Maori warriors tattooed their faces, but also parts of their bodies. The tattoos were called “ta moko” and they identified who the men were, but also showed their life achievements, tribal association, and social status. This was considered a rite of passage and tattoos were applied by scarring the skin. A revered artist called a “tohunga ta moko” would apply the ritual tattoos. Maori warriors would sometimes eat their captured enemies or enslave them. But, despite their ferocity, they eventually settled in New Zealand between 1250 and 1350, due to the continuing wars with the Hawaiian warriors. Once settled, they hunted seals and began to grow their own food. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maori and British governments in 1840. This is considered the founding document of New Zealand.
“Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God” – Honor Guard V4 Silver Coin
The elite Hawaiian warriors were called Koa, which was the name of the tree from which they fashioned their spears, slingshots, pikes, wooden daggers, knuckle dusters, and javelins. They were primarily defenders of Hawaii’s monarchy. They were both renowned and feared, for their mastery of the martial art called Lua. This form of martial art utilized choke holds, grappling, and striking, and when inflicted on an enemy, the warrior could break bones. These warriors would only wear loincloths and would also shave, and oil, their bodies to ensure the enemy could not get a tight grip on them.
The United States and Hawaii signed the Reciprocity Treaty in 1875. This treaty led to the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.
Other recent Silver Shield Proof Round releases
Today, King Kamehameha I is the most revered of the Hawaiian warriors. Thanks to his physical strength, and his military expertise using Western weapons, he united the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in 1810. There are many statues installed in his honor across the Hawaiian Islands and this year, Hawaiians celebrate King Kamehameha I Day on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
