757) "The Minotaur": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Second Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 15.06.2018:
For more posts on the "Mythical Creatures" Coin Series, please visit the following links:
For more posts on the "Mythical Creatures" Coin Series, please visit the following links:
The Government and Treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory have on 15.06.2018, issued the second coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures - a silver double crown coin which features the Minotaur, after the first coin in the Series titled "The Siren" (mermaid).
The Reverse of the Silver 2 Crown Coin set against a painting/representation of the Mythical Minotaur
The Background of the Coin Series:
The Coin Series features legendary mythical creatures that are known all over the world. These famous mythological stories, tales and legends entertain, enthrall, thrill and inspire the listeners. These ancient Myths contain morals - teaching the virtues of love, courage, strength and self reliance. They also teach us the consequences of vices associated with jealousy, greed, deceit and treachery.
This Series of five 2 Oz Fine Silver Coins issued by the Pobjoy Mint, on behalf of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), includes tales of monsters ans scary creatures, which are known the world over. The Series will include coins on - The Siren (mermaid), The Hydra, The Minotaur, The Centaur and Medusa the Gorgon.
The legend of the "Minotaur":
The myth of the Minotaur and Theseus is one of the most fascinating myths of Greek Mythology.
The legend goes somewhat like this - A snow-white bull was sent by Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea to King Minos of Crete, who was supposed to sacrifice the as a tribute to the Gods, but instead, he grew fond of the snow-white bull and sacrificed another bull in his place.
Angered by this act of King Minos, Poseidon cast a spell on Minos' wife Pasiphone to fall in love with the unique bull, as a result, an off-spring was born - half man, half bull, who was named the "Minotaur" (literally meaning the "bull of Minos" in Greek).
The King was so ashamed of this monster, he hid the Minotaurin a specially constructed labyrinth which was so complicated that no one could ever find the way out alive.
Meanwhile, King Minos had also successfully waged a war with the Athenians and as part of his victory terms, he demanded that at nine year intervals, seven Athenian boys and seven Athenian girls be sent to Crete to be devoured by the Minotaur.
Theseus, the mythical King and founder-hero of Athens, with an intention to end this horrible practice, decided to do battle with the Minotaur and kill him, once and for all, to put an end to this barbaric practice. Having entered the labyrinth disguised as one of the young Athenians to be sacrificed, unravelling a string of thread as he went inside the labyrinth, Theseus succeeded in slaying the Minotaur and also found his way out of the maze, with the help of the unravelled thread.
The Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK:
The Reverse of the Silver 4 Pounds (Double Crown) Coin
This face of the coin shows the Minotaur in battle against Theseus. In the background is the intricate labyrinth in which the Minotaur lived. The Minotaur is shown as chained at the foot to prevent him from escaping from the labyrinth. Skulls of his victims lie nearby the scene of the battle.
The Reverse and Obverse of the Coin shown together
The Obverse of the 4 Pounds (Double Crown) Silver Coin
The Obverse face of the coin shows an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right which is an exclusive design of the Pobjoy Mint, whose initials "PM" appear below the Queen's neck.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II, 2018. BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY".
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: 4 Pounds (Double Crown); Metallic Composition: 2 Oz, .999 Fine Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof, Ultra High Relief with Antique Finish; Weight: 62.2 grams; Maximum Mintage: 650 pieces; Issued by: Pobjoy Mint, UK at their facility in Surrey; Issued on behalf of: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT); Year of issue: 2018.
The coin is encapsulated in a unique acrylic box with a sleeve certifying the authenticity of the coin (COA)
Links to some other interesting posts:
Central Bank of Ireland issues:
Links to some other interesting posts:
Central Bank of Ireland issues:
Bank of England Banknotes:
1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"
2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.
3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on the Stockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn
6) Jane Austen: features on the second circulating Polymer Banknote of 10 Pounds denomination to be released on 14.09.2017
Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes):
1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:
1) The Ryder Cup Commemorative Banknote: A 5 Pounds Banknote issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014
British Crown Dependencies:
1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey
2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey
3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain
5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015
7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend
8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie
9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda
10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence
11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003
12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint
13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence
14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin
15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017
17) The Siren: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A silver Double crown (Four Pounds) : First coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures) issued by the Pobjoy Mint UK on 03.04.2018
18) The Minotaur: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT):A Silver Double crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Second Coin in the Series titled :Mythical Creatures: issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 15.06.2018
Famous Battles:
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK)
2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK
3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK
Gold Coins:
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark
2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark
Silver Coins:
1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns
British India Coinage:
1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835
2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress
3) Edward VII: King & Emperor Coinage
4) George V King Emperor Coinage
5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage
Other British Royalty:
1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown
3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK
4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013
5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)
6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark
British Coinage:
1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)
2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone
5) The new 12-sided One Pound UK Coin introduced into circulation on 28.03.2017
Commemorative British Coinage:
1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era
2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK
3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)
4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel
5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
Links: Postage Stamps:
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