951) "Trapped", Cook Islands: A Silver 5 Dollars High Relief Coin minted by Smartminting technology in a new design concept brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of Cook Islands in 2019:
"Trapped" is a new design concept, which embodies the universal nightmare and fear of being trapped - physically or mentally, with no way out. This coin alludes to the primal fears of humans beings.
The oppressive image of a trapped person is skilfully depicted on this silver coin through the employment of Smartminting technology to bring about an antique finish texture, thereby creating an image of a person screaming through a stretched fabric sheet. The coin's highlight is not what is engraved on the surface, but "what appears to loom beneath/inside".
What is the worst nightmares a person can have? One of them is likely that of being able to move, for example - being stuck in quicksand; being separated from the rest of the world by an impenetrable membrane.
"Trapped" : A coin for connoisseurs:
This coin is a numismatic piece of art standing in an old tradition, with an antique quality finish. It takes inspiration from Edward Munch's famous painting "The Scream" and also picks on images of the first Star Wars Trilogy in one scene where Han Solo is frozen in carbonite.
I am reminded of the Hanged Man Card in my Tarot Deck library, where the person hangs upside down, his one foot loosely bound by a rope on a tree branch. He does not know what to do or what steps to take to mitigate his circumstances. This card when it comes in a reading symbolises a period of uncertainty, where the querent fells totally lost and directionless.
Another Tarot Card which symbolises this helplessness is the Hermit Card, where the Hermit is shown standing on a vast expanse office, apparently rendered immobile and not knowing which direction to take.
When either of these two cards comes in a reading, it is time for the querent to pause and meditate on his situation and on the way forward, without getting into a panic.
Another Tarot Card which symbolises this helplessness is the Hermit Card, where the Hermit is shown standing on a vast expanse office, apparently rendered immobile and not knowing which direction to take.
When either of these two cards comes in a reading, it is time for the querent to pause and meditate on his situation and on the way forward, without getting into a panic.
The Commemorative Coin:
The Reverse of the Silver 5 Dollars Coin presented against a confusing background inspired by Edward Munch's work of Art titled "The Scream"
Another image of the Reverse of the Silver 5 Dollars Coin presented with a focus on the image/coin itself
The Reverse of the Silver 5 Dollars Coin presents a front-facing portrait that appears to be covered by the fine fabric of a woven piece of cloth, with the person behind the fabric apparently screaming out of helplessness
The Obverse of the Silver 5 Dollar Coin depicts an image of Queen Elizabeth II facing right
The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II, COOK ISLANDS, 5 DOLLARS". Below the Queen's neck are the initials of the designer of her portrait "IRB" (standing for "Ian Rank-Broadley").
The specifications of this coin are:
Country of issue: (The) Cook Islands; Denomination: 5 Dollars; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.41 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish; Mintage: 999 pieces.
The specifications of this coin are:
Country of issue: (The) Cook Islands; Denomination: 5 Dollars; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.41 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish; Mintage: 999 pieces.
The Box in which the coin is shipped shows an image of a person with a finger on his lips, apparently trying to allay the fears of the person screaming and signalling the screaming person to stop doing so
About Edvard Munch's painting - "The Scream", which inspired the design of this coin:
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was born the second son of five children in an impoverished military doctor's family in 1863.
"The Scream", which inspired the design of this Collector Coin was painted over a period of three years by Edvard Munch in Berlin and completed in 1895.
In his lifetime, Munch painted four versions with this title. The earliest painted version in 1893, is presently kept in Oslo's National Gallery, while another version painted in 1910 hangs in the Munch Museum, also in Oslo. One version of the painting is in a private collection.
The 1895 version is also housed in the Oslo Ntional Gallery.
Evidently, "The Scream" is a self-portrait, or that the inspiration came to Munch after he saw a Peruvian mummy which he saw at the World's Fair in Paris in 1889.
The figure in "The Scream" could also be a kind of self-portrait/expression of Munch himself, whose older sister Sophie passed away when he was 13, an incident that affected him very badly.
The most stunning aspect about "The Scream" is not only its impact upon subsequent art, but the way it transcended art history to become a touchstone of popular culture.
"The Scream" has been caricatured and lampooned so often that it is now far more famous in its own right, than its creator himself. The thefts from museums in Oslo of different versions of "The Scream" ( one in 1994 and the other a decade later) only helped enhance the painting's notoriety.
"The Scream" has figured everywhere - from being portrayed on handbags, posters, mugs et al.
Representative images of "The Scream"
Links to some other interesting posts from Coin Invest Trust (CIT) on this blog:
2) 150th Anniversary of "The Great Tea Race - 1866": Commemorative Coins in the denomination of 10 and 2 Dollars issued by Cook Islands in 2016
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".
5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".
5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
12) "Sand Dollars II": Republic of Palau issues coordinated by Coin invest Trust, minted by B.H.Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich by using its unique Smartminting technology: Silver Sand Dollar II" $1 Coins (2019)
15) Ichthyosaur, from the Mesozoic Era - "The Age of the Reptiles": Tird Coin in the "Evolution of Life Coin Series" brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of the Republic of Mongolia in 2017
16) Pterosauria from the Mesozoic Era - "The Age of the Reptiles" (70 to 225 million years ago): Fourth Coin in the "Evolution of Life Coin Series" brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of the Republic of Mongolia in 2018.
17) "Trapped", Cook Islands: A Silver 5 Dollars High Relief Coin minted by Smartminting technology in a new design concept brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of Cook Islands in 2019
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