Search This Blog

Thursday, 9 August 2018

779) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018:

779) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018:

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 07.08.2018, issued the third coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" - a Silver Double Crown Coin which features the Hydra, after the first two coins in the Series titled "The Siren" (mermaid) and "The Minotaur".

The Reverse of the Silver 2 Crown Coin set against a painting/representation of the "Mythical Hydra"

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 and scary creatures, which are known the world over. The series will include coins on - The Siren (mermaid), The Minotaur, The Hydra, The centaur and Medusa the Gorgon.

The legend of the Hydra:

The Hydra is one of the beasts faced by Hercules in the legend of the "Twelve Labours of Hercules". These were tasks set out for Hercules to be completed over 12 years as a penance - feats that were considered so difficult that they seemed impossible for any mere mortal man to achieve.

The second labour of Hercules was to kill the Lemaean Hydra, a monstrous nine-headed serpent in Greek and Roman Mythology, who terrorised the local country-side, attacking with a potent venom. The challenge of defeating the monster was that it could not easily be killed, as one of the nine heads was immortal. The Hydra also had assistance from a huge crab which would bite Hercules' foot, causing further distraction.

After removing and destroying the eight mortal heads by sealing their necks to prevent replacement heads from growing thereon, Hercules cut off the ninth head and buried it in the ground and covered it with a heavy rock, thus preventing it from ever emerging again.


The Reverse of the Silver 4 Pounds (Double Crown) Coin 

This face of the coin shows Hercules fighting the Hydra, with the crab also shown attacking Hercules.

The coin has been minted by using a process of High Relief, which has brought greater depth to the design , which shows how monstrous the Hydra was.

              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 specifications of the coin are:

Denomination: 4 Pounds (Double Cropwn); 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 an outer printed sleeve and includes a Certificate of Authenticity (COA)









Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories:

Central Bank of Ireland issues:





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 



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: 


No comments:

Post a Comment