1685) "Amaterasu, Sun Goddess (Japan)", Niue Island: The first Coin in the Coin Series titled "Divine Faces of the Sun": A $5 (Five Dollars - NZD) Coin minted by Mint XXI, Poland depicting the Celestial Goddess: Year of Coin issue: 2021:
The first Coin in a Coin Series titled - "Divine Faces of the Sun" commenced by Mint XXI, Poland on behalf of the Niue Island, showcases the Japanese Shinto Goddess of the sun, Amaterasu. She depicts the world of nature, for she is also the goddess that gives life.
Filled to the edge with intricate detail, the deity is depicted at one with nature, her mastery of the sun spreading life throughout the world. The gilding and amber for the sun works absolutely perfectly. The lack of intrusive inscriptions is also a huge plus, what is there minimal and well placed.
About Amaterasu Omikami (天照大御神, meaning “Great Divinity Illuminating Heaven”): is the Japanese sun goddess, and is one of the most important deities in Japanese mythology, said to be a direct ancestor of the Japanese Imperial dynasty.
She is the sister of Susanoo and Tsukuyomi (who was also her husband), the daughter of Izanagi. The Emperors of Japan claim direct descent from her, by way of ornament.
Myths & Legends:
Amaterasu was born when another god, Izanagi, cleansed his left eye after returning from a failed attempt at retrieving his wife from the Land of Yomi (her brothers Tsukuyomi and Susano-o were born from washing the other eye and nose, respectively).
She married Tsukuyomi, and for a time, she shared the sky with him, controlling the sun and day while he ruled the moon and night, until he killed the food goddess Uke Mochi.
This killing prompted Amaterasu to label him an evil spirit and separate from him, creating the division between day and night.
The Sun Hides Her Face:
The texts also tell of a long-standing rivalry between Amaterasu and her other brother, Susanoo. When he was banished from Heaven by Izanagi, he went to bid his sister goodbye. Amaterasu was suspicious, demanding a contest to prove his good faith.
Each of them took an object of the other's and from it came gods and goddesses. Amaterasu gave birth to three women from Susano's sword, while he gave birth five men from her necklace.
Claiming the gods were hers because they were born of her necklace, and the goddesses were his, she decided that she had won the challenge, as his item produced women. Frustrated at her insistence, Susanoo went on a rampage, destroying Amaterasu's rice fields, hurling a flayed pony at her loom, and killing one of her attendants in a fit of rage.
Amaterasu, grieved and furious, hid inside the Ama-no-Iwato ("heavenly rock cave"), thus hiding the sun for a long period of time.
Finally, Ame-no-Uzume, kami of merriment, found a way to lure her out. Dressing herself in flowers, she started dancing on top of an overturned tub in front of the cave. The other gods began to laugh, even more so when she shed her "clothing" and danced naked. Curious to know what the fuss was about, Amaterasu looked out of the cave, and saw her own reflection in a mirror Uzume had placed in her view. She left the cave, and the other gods quickly blocked the entrance, persuading her to stay.
The siblings later reconciled their conflict when Susanoo gave her the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword as a reconciliation gift.
Legendary Heirlooms:
According to legend, Amaterasu bequeathed three sacred objects to the Imperial family: the mirror Yata no Kagami, the jewel piece Yasakani no Magatama, and the sword, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. These sacred objects collectively became the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Modern Depictions:
As the primary goddess of Shintoism, Amaterasu is still worshiped in Japan.
Television - In Naruto, Amaterasu is the name of the highest level Fire Release technique. She appears in the series Five Star Stories.
Games - She is the protagonist of the game Okami, in the form of a wolf.
Amaterasu is a card in the Yu-gi-oh card game
She is featured in Smite as a youthful woman in a yellow sun-dress.
The Coin:
On the Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) - NZD) Coin is depicted Ameterasu facing left. The design also features the Sun Disc, birds, flowers and celestial objects etc.
On the Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars - NZD) Coin is shown an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley whose initials "IRB" are inscribed below the Queen's neck.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "NIUE ISLAND. ELIZABETH II. FIVE DOLLARS. 3 OZ. 2021. Ag 999".
The design has been supplemented with a small patterned border.
The specifications of this Coin are:
Country of issue: Niue Island; Year: 2021; Denomination/Face Value: $5 (Five Dollars - NZD); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 3.0 Oz or 93.321 grams; Diameter/Size: 55.0 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish; Mintage: 500 pieces; Special Technique: High Relief, Gilding, Amber/Stone insert; Presentation Box/Case: Yes, Wooden; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
The Presentation Box/Case together with the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) - Open.
Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and Countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog:
Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:
1)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean :2) Edward Teach or "BlackBeard"
2)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean: 3)Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart Roberts
3)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean:4)Jack Rackham
4)Famous-pirates-of- the Caribbean : 5) Henry Avery
5)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean : 6) Sir Henry Morgan
6)Norse Goddess Freya - a Silver 2 Dollars High Relief antiquated Coin , the first in the Series titled "Norse Goddesses" (2017)
Link to Posts from Tokelau:
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)
5) "Tree of Life", Palau: First Coin in a new Coin Series titled "Dot Art" features "Pointillism", an Art Technique of the 1800s: A Silver Black Proof $20 Coin minted with Smartminting Technology, coordinated by Numiscollect: Date of Coin issue: 05/2020
6) "Great White Shark", Republic of Palau: A $5 (5 Dollars) Silver Proof Coin issued by Coin Invest Trust (CIT), minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH on behalf of Palau: Year of Coin issue: 2020 (with Year of issue inscribed as 2021)
Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:
Links to posts on Coin issues from Solomon Islands:
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)
24) Arowana Dragon Fish, Republic of Palau: A Silver $10 (Dollars) Coin brought out by Coin Invest Trust (CIT) for the Republic of Palau, minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich: Issue year: 2019
30) "Blue Skies and Tail Winds", Cook Islands: A 10 Dollars Silver Black Proof Coin coordinated by the Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt at their facitity in Munich, Germany: Year: 2020
31) The "Maneki Neko Cat" ot the "Fortune Cat" : A $1 Gold Coin issued by the Republic of Palau: Minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich for Coin Invest Trust in 2018
32) "Great White Shark", Republic of Palau: A $5 (5 Dollars) Silver Proof Coin issued by Coin Invest Trust (CIT), minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH on behalf of Palau: Year of Coin issue: 2020 (with Year of issue inscribed as 2021)
2) "Aconcagua", Argentina: 25 Dollars High Relief Silver Coin - The Third Coin in the "7-Summits Coin Series" issued by the Cook Islands in co-ordination with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH issued in November 2018
3) Mount Kilimanjaro: 25 Dollar Silver High Relief Coin: The fourth coin in the 7-Summits Coin Series issued by the Cook Islands in co-ordination with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH issued in 08/2019
Links:
1) Caves of Slovak Karst in Slovakia: A World Natural Heritage UNESCO Site: A Gold Coin of 100 Euros issued under the "World Natural Heritage" Series by the National Bank odf Slovakia, minted by the Kremnica Mint on 15.11.2017
2) Slovak National Theatre, Slovakia: Centenary Celebrations (1920-2020): A 10 Euro Silver Coin issued by the National Bank of Slovenia, minted by the Kremnica Mint: Year of issue: 2020
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