1728) The Divine Comedy - Paradiso" Republic of Cameroon: 700th Anniversary of the Epic Poem (1320-2020): The second Coin in ‘Dante's Trilogy - 'Inferno", "Purgatorio" & "Paradiso": 5000 & 10000 Francs CFA Silver Coins minted by Mint XXI, Poland on behalf of Cameroon: Year of Coin issue: 2021:
One of the most well-known works of all times and places is 14th century epic poem "Divine Comedy" created by the Italian writer Dante Aligheri in three parts - "Inferno", "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso".
In 2020, "Dante’s Inferno" minted by Mint XXI was a five-ounce silver coin that focussed on the first of the themes of Alighieri Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ Trilogy - ‘Divine Comedy’ is a work in three parts.
After the immense popularity of the first theme "Inferno" Coin, Mint XXI has now issued a Silver Coin with identical specifications on the third theme - "Paradiso".
Depicting the face of God perhaps, surrounded by legions of angels, it stands in stark contrast to the terror depicted in the first coin.
About - DANTE ALIGHIERI:
He was an Italian poet born around 1265 who passed away in 1321.
Dante is widely lauded for his epic work ‘Divine Comedy’ (in three parts) which is not only considered to be the greatest literary work in the Italian language, but also one of the most important of the Middle Ages.
He eschewed the traditional use of Latin so that more people would have access to his writing, helping to set the local Tuscan dialect on its path to becoming the modern Italian language.
The depictions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, set out in the "Divine Comedy", remain one of the greatest influences on a vast body of art across multiple mediums.
Great writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton and Alfred Tennyson were said to be inspired by it. Countless works of art also bear its influence.
About DANTE’S PARADISO:
The Paradiso begins at the top of Mount Purgatory, called the Earthly Paradise (i.e. the Garden of Eden), at noon on Wednesday, March 30 (or April 13), 1300, following Easter Sunday.
Dante’s journey through Paradise takes approximately twenty-four hours, which indicates that the entire journey of the "Divine Comedy" has taken one week, Thursday evening (Inferno I and II) to Thursday evening.
After ascending through the sphere of fire believed to exist in the earth’s upper atmosphere (Canto I), Beatrice guides Dante through the nine celestial spheres of Heaven, to the Empyrean, which is the abode of God. The nine spheres are concentric, as in the standard medieval geocentric model of cosmology, which was derived from Ptolemy. The Empyrean is non-material.
SPHERE 1: THE MOON (THE INCONSTANT):
The waxing and waning of the moon is associated with inconstancy. Consequently, the sphere of the Moon is that of souls who abandoned their vows, and so were deficient in the virtue of fortitude.
SPHERE 2: MERCURY (THE AMBITIOUS):
Because of its proximity to the Sun, the planet Mercury is often difficult to see. Allegorically, the planet represents those who did good out of a desire for fame, but who, being ambitious, were deficient in the virtue of justice.
SPHERE 3: VENUS (THE LOVERS):
The planet Venus (the Morning and Evening Star) is traditionally associated with the Goddess of Love, and so Dante makes this the planet of the lovers, who were deficient in the virtue of temperance.
SPHERE 4: THE SUN (THE WISE):
Within the Sun, which is the Earth’s source of illumination, Dante meets the greatest examples of prudence: the souls of the wise, who help to illuminate the world intellectually.
SPHERE 5: MARS (THE WARRIORS OF THE FAITH):
The planet Mars is traditionally associated with the God of War, and so Dante makes this planet the home of the warriors of the Faith, who gave their lives for God, thereby displaying the virtue of fortitude.
SPHERE 6: JUPITER (THE JUST RULERS):
The planet Jupiter is traditionally associated with the king of the gods, so Dante makes this planet the home of the rulers who displayed justice. The souls here spell out the Latin for “Love justice, ye that judge the earth”, after which the final “M” of that sentence is transformed into the shape of a giant imperial eagle.
SPHERE 7: SATURN (THE CONTEMPLATIVES):
The sphere of Saturn is that of the contemplatives, who embody temperance. Dante here meets Peter Damian, and discusses with him monasticism, the doctrine of predestination, and the sad state of the Church.
SPHERE 8: THE FIXED STARS (FAITH, HOPE & LOVE):
The sphere of the Fixed Stars is the sphere of the church triumphant. From here (in fact, from the constellation Gemini, under which he was born), Dante looks back on the seven spheres he has visited, and on the Earth.
SPHERE 9: THE PRIMUM MOBILE (THE ANGELS):
The Primum Mobile (“first moved” sphere) is the last sphere of the physical universe. It is moved directly by God, and its motion causes all the spheres it encloses to move.
The Primum Mobile is the abode of angels, and here Dante sees God as an intensely bright point of light surrounded by nine rings of angels. Beatrice explains the creation of the universe, and the role of the angels, ending with a forceful criticism of the preachers of the day.
THE EMPYREAN:
From the Primum Mobile, Dante ascends to a region beyond physical existence, the Empyrean, which is the abode of God. Beatrice, representing theology, is here transformed to be more beautiful than ever before, and Dante becomes enveloped in light, rendering him fit to see God. Dante sees an enormous rose, symbolising divine love, the petals of which are the enthroned souls of the faithful. All the souls he has met in Heaven, including Beatrice, have their home in this rose.
The Coin:
The Header/Banner depicts the face of God perhaps, surrounded by legions of angels, this Silver Coin stands in stark contrast to the terror depicted in the first coin.
The Obverse of the 5,000 Francs CFA Silver Coin depicts imagery from the "Divine Comedy".
The Coin is titled "REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROON" (on the upper periphery) and "700. THE DIVINE COMEDY" (at lower left).
On the right periphery is given the denomination ofthe coin and year of issue - 5000 FRANCS CFA 2021".
The Reverse of the 5,000 Francs CFA Silver Coin depicts imagery from the "PARDISO" (mentioned at the bottom periphery).
Perhaps, it depicts the face of God, surriounded by a multitude of angels.
There are two variants of this Silver coin:
1) The specifications of the first Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of Cameroon; Year: 2021; Denomination/Face Value: 5,000 Francs CFA; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 155.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 65.0 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish; Mintage: 333 pieces; Special Technique: High Relief, Hand polished; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
2) The specifications of the second Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Republic of Cameroon; Year: 2021; Denomination/Face Value: 10,000 Francs CFA; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1000.0 grams or 1.0 Kilogram; Diameter/Size: 100.0 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish; Mintage: 99 pieces; Special Technique: High Relief, Hand polished; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
16) New Circulation coins Series, Kenya: introduced by the Central Bank of Kenya on 11.12.2018
17) Sudan: A 100 Pounds Banknote being issued by the Central Bank of Sudan by End February 2019
18) Algeria: i) Introduction of two new denominations of 500 and 1,000 Algerian Dinars (AD), which will kick-start the new "Fifth Series of Algerian Dinar Banknotes" ii) A 100 Algerian Dinar tri-metallic coin which wil replace the 100 Dinar circulating Banknote of the same denomination
19) South Africa: "The Big Five Silver Coin Series": 1) First Coin in the Series brought out by the South African Mint features the African Elephant on a Five Rand Coin as the first variant issued in 02/2019: 2) Later Coin issues will feature the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and the Buffalo
20) 25 Years of Constitutional Democracy in South africa (SA25): Celebrating the milestone with the issue of six circulation coins (R2 five coins & R5 one Coin) and three Commemorative Coins (Gold R500, Sterling Silver R50 & Bronze Alloy R50) issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in partnership with the South African Mint: Coin release dats: 04/2019 & 05/2019
21) Dr. Tawhida Ben Chiekh (1910-2010), Tunisia: A new 10 Dinar Banknote issued by the "Banque Centrale de Tunisie" (Central Bank of Tunisia) honouring the pioneering doctor, who replaces Dido (Queen Elissa), the founder & first Queen of Carthage on the 10 Dinar Banknote: Date of Banknote issue: 27.03.2020
19) Modern Jewish Art Mandalas, Israel: Stamps issued by Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) on three Blessings - Kingship (2.50 NIS), Remembrances (7.40 NIS), Shofar (8.30 NIS): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.09.2020
Gates of Jerusalem Coin Series:
1) "Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem", Israel: First Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold & Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2017:
3) "Damascus Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Third Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2018 (with the year of issue as 2019):
4) "New Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fourth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Isral Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
5) "Golden Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fifth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:
2) The City of David: Fourth Coin in the Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series issued by ICMC, Israel & the Holy Land Mint, Israel (2019)
3) The Western Wall, Israel: Sixth Coin in the "Views of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Israel Coins & Medals Corporation (ICMC) Ltd: Year of Coins issue: 2020
"Ancient Cities of the Holy Land Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series":
1) Old Jaffa, Israel: The "Ancient Cities of the Holy Land" Gold & Silver Bullion Coin Series minted by the Israel Coinsand Medals Corporation (ICMC) through the Holy Land Mint: Date of issue: 01.03.2020
No comments:
Post a Comment