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Friday 9 October 2020

1507) Medusa- the Gorgon, Niue Island: A 15 Dollars Silver coin minted by the Mint of Poland: Year of Coin issue: 2019:

1507) Medusa- the Gorgon, Niue Island: A 15 Dollars Silver coin minted by the Mint of Poland: Year of Coin issue: 2019:

In Greek mythology, Medusa (or "guardian or  protectress") was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venemous snakes in place of hair.

In the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses that her story is most deeply elaborated. According to the poem, she was lovely, until she was raped in Athena's temple by Posiedon. 

Athena then "punished her" for this violation, by turning her a the monstrous, stony-glanced creature. Thus, those who gazed into her eyes would turn to stone. (Considering that Poseidon is believed to be Athena's father, this was a case of injustice towards the "rape victim" by the influential "Gods" and a fit case today for investigation and punishing  both "Poseidon" and his daughter for the injustice meted out to Gorgon.)

Thereafter, Gorgon lived and died on an island named Sarpedon, near Cisthene.

Later, she was beheaded by the mythical Perseus, who used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone - as a weapon - until he gave it to Athena to place on her shield.

The Coin:

On the Reverse of the $15 (15 Dollars) Silver Coin is a depiction of Medusa's head according to ancient myths.

Lateral and Horizontal views of the Medusa Coin.



On the Obverse of the $15 (Fifteen Dollars) Silver Coin is seen an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right. 

In the background are decorative patterns.

On the periphery are the inscriptions - " NIUE ISLAND", "2019", "15 Dollars", "Elizabeth II".

Right hand - hallmark : "Ag 925," Mint Mark: MW.

The specifications of this Silver coin are:

Theme: "Medusa, the Gorgon"; Country of issue: Niue Island; Denomination: $15 (15 Dollars); Year of Coin issue: 2019; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 77.0 mm x 78.0 mm; Weight: 250.0 grams or 7.2 Troy Oz; Shape: Special; Edge: Plain; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Minted By: Mint of Poland; On Behalf of: Niue Island; Mint Mark: MW; Mintage: 499 pieces; Special Techniques: High Relief, Special Finish, Special Shape; Designer: Pietras Pawel (Obverse & Reverse), Queen's Effigy: Ian Rank-Broadley (Obverse).

The Packing Case in which the Coin is shipped/placed is  titled "MEDUSA" and carries a tiled pattern on it.

The inner protective cover, without the coin carries the name of the Mint - "SKARBIC MENNICY POLSKIE" (Mint of Poland) and specifications of the coin.






Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and Countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog: 



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4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017











Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:



Link to Posts from Tokelau:
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Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:



Links to posts on Coin issues from Solomon Islands:


Other links to interesting posts on Coins brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of other countries:










The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:


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