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New Zealand Turning Hobbits Into Actual Cash

Posted by timothy on from the phase-two-is-to-revive-smaug dept.

Curseyoukhan writes "With its economy struggling, New Zealand hopes to cash in on 'The Hobbit' by turning it into actual cash. The nation is releasing special commemorative coins depicting characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved book. The coin release coincides with the premiere of the first installment in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of the book. It is also part of a publicity campaign aimed to rebrand the country '100 percent Middle Earth.'"

8 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Future historians will be confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As they find the ancient coins, they will no doubt believe New Zealand was ruled by Hobbits.

    1. Re:Future historians will be confused by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've been short changed before but this is ridiculous!

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    2. Re:Future historians will be confused by Glothar · · Score: 3, Funny

      Forget future historians, in 600 years, when Hobbitism rises as the worlds newest major religion, the coins will be used by fundamentalists as proof that Hobbitism is the One Truth, and encouragement for the furthering of their grim beliefs.

      A large sect of Hobbitics in Western Europe will base their entire world view on the belief that there was no allegory or symbolism in the Lord of the Rings, and thus Balrogs do have wings, foxes are sentient, and that if you become suitably evil, you'll turn into a floating eyeball. They'll lobby the Grande Bankocracy of America to force the teaching of Ainuism as an alternative to Evolution. In late November, they will gather together in a large field with a bucket of these coins, separate into five groups, and then murder each other until someone spots an eagle. Then, the group with the shortest individual gets all the gold.

      Why don't people think about consequences when they make commemorative coins like this?

      [/far-too-much-tolkien-knowledge]

  2. Soylent Green by thomasdz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Personally, I'd grind my hobbits into a paste and sell it as health food. I'd make millions!

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  3. turning hobbits into cash? by hamburger+lady · · Score: 4, Informative

    is that like turning smurfs into gold? cause remember you need six of em.

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  4. Miss opportunity. by Dyinobal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They really missed an opportunity here, they could of minted coins that are meant to appear as if they had come from Smaug's Horde. I'd pay for a coin that was cast to look as if it had come from the lonely mountain.

    Maybe I'm just a big nerd but I honestly don't think commemorative character coins are all that interesting. Give me something that is anchored in the story

  5. Forged in Mount Doom! by KatchooNJ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can already envision the corny TV commercial hawking these things. If they showed the orcs producing the coins like they were churning out weapons in the movies, that would be pure perfection.

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  6. Re:Hobbit Port by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I'll get wood for two hobbits," indeed.

    Kinky.

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