2106) Leaning Tower of Pisa, (The) Cook Islands: 650th Anniversary of the completion of this iconic building : A $10 (Ten Dollars) Silver Coin celebrates the milestone: Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Project coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2021:
The Obverse and Reverse of the $10 (Ten Dollars) Silver Coin shown standing on edge shows the Ultra High Relief
LEANING TOWER OF PISA:
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was the result of a human mistake. Just one little miscalculation made in the 11th century left behind this amazing 14,500 ton leaning tower.
Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa not fall?
The leaning Tower of Pisa does not fall because its center of gravity has been carefully kept within its base. … In short, this is why the Tower of Pisa does not topple over. The Leaning Tower doesn't fall because its center of gravity is carefully kept within its base.
Known among Italians as "Torre Pendente di Pisa", this piece of architecture is significally different from most medieval architecture. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located on the city’s main square, Piazza del Duomo.
This square is also known as "Piazza dei Miracoli, “Miracles’ Square”, a name given by Italian writer Gabriele D’Annunzio.
In 1987 the whole square became one of the many Italian UNESCO World Heritage sites!
The leaning tower is the third oldest building built in the square, after the wonderful Cathedral and its Baptistry.
With its many columns and archs, this tower boasts an advanced knowledge of weight and load characteristics, showing the Italian architectures’ expertise. Why is the tower leaning then? What the architect didn’t account for was the base of the tower, which was built on a dense section of clay…
The Early Years of the Leaning Tower of Pisa:
The construction of the Tower began in 1173.
Originally designed to be a bell tower, it stood upright for over 5 years, but when the third floor was completed in 1178 it began to lean due to an unstable foundation.
Due to this issue, construction halted for 100 years. It was, therefore, decided by the authorities to focus on the war with Genoa and hope that the soil would settle in the meantime.
Construction restarts:
After 100 years, engineer Giovanni di Simone stepped forward and started to add more floors to the tower. He tried to compensate for the original lean by making one side of the upper floors taller than the other. This only caused the tower to lean over even more…
Unconcerned by the leaning, the tower was added a 7th floor in the second part of the 14th century, as well as a bell tower, and then the tower was left on its own until the 19th century.
In 1838 architect Alessandro Della Gherardesca, dug a pathway at the base of the tower to allow people to admire the intricately crafted base.
This caused the tower to lean even more, probably due to the digging of its base.
The Leaning Tower survived World War II:
World War II caused destruction all over the World.
When American soldiers invaded Pisa, they were ordered to destroy all buildings so as to prevent enemy snipers to find suitable places to hide.
There were no exceptions to this rule, and many buildings were blown up everyday, as the US forces advanced over the Italian countryside. However a retreat took place shortly after the arrival of the Americans, making it unnecessary to destroy the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Construction on the Leaning Tower of Pisa restarts once again:
Twenty years after the end of the war Italy asked for help to avoid the Leaning Tower from toppling.
They didn’t want the tower to lose its leaning though, because it is now the symbol of the city, a landmark loved by tourists from all over the world.
As a temporary measure engineers and architects installed a leaden counterweight of 800 tonnes.
UNESCO World Heritage Site:
In 1987 the Leaning Tower of Pisa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the entire Piazza Del Duomo, but in 1990 it was closed.
Its bells were removed and the tower was anchored, only to reopen in 2001.Tourists now can safely visit the leaning tower of Pisa.
It is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
2022 marks the 650th Anniversary of the completion of this famous building and there is no other building in the world has become so popular for its flaws.
Adds the book titled "TREASURES OF THE WORLD - A complete guide the UNESCO World Heritage sites" on the Leaning Tower of Pisa:
"Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, Italy:
The world-famous monuments of the Piazza del Duomo are masterpieces of medieval architecture.
The cathedral, its baptistry, its campanile - the Leaning Tower - and its walled cemetery, had a huge influence on monumental art in medieval Italy.
The huge marble-and-stone cathedral is the best example of Pisan Romanesque style."
The Commemorative Coin:
Coin Invest Trust (CIT) has captured this leaning tower in both a 2 oz and 5 oz silver.
On the Reverse of the $10 (Ten Dollars) Silver Coin is depicted the Leaning Tower of Piza, shown standing with the image of the cathedral in the background.
The inscriptions are - "LEANING TOWER OF PISA. 1372-2022. 650 YEARS".
On the Obverse of the $10 (Ten Dollars) Silver Coin is depicted the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the centre, with the Cathedral at right. At left is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck.
The peripheral inscriptions are - ELIZABETH II. COOK ISLANDS. 10 DOLLARS."
The tower is shown on both sides of the coin in smartminting® ultra-high relief.
This coin also has a flat bottom edge to allow one to view the coin vertically as if one were standing in front of the tower in person.
Every detail of the tower from its wonderful arches to its belfry can be seen in detail. Even the Pisa Cathedral is shown next to the tower.
The specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: (The) Cook Islands; Year: 2022; Denomination/Face Value: $10 (Ten Dollars); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 2.0 Oz or 62.2 grams or 5.0 Oz or 155.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 999 pieces; Special Technique: Smartminting® (Ultra High Relief); Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
5) Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), Niue: First Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 01/2020
6) Nikola Tesla, Niue: Second Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue : Date of Coin issue: 03/2020
7) Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Niue: Third Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series", minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 07/2020
Links to interesting posts from the South Pacific Island of Fiji:
Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and Countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog:
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
7) Michelangelo's "Pieta", Vatican City: New Copper Coin Series titled "Art and Faithy": A 10 Euro Copper Coin minted by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato" (IPZS) on behalf of the "Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Governatorato della Cotta del Vaticano": Coin issue date: 05.03.2020
8) Ancient Postal Routes, Vatican City State: EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two stamps of 1.10 Euro and 1.15 Euro issued by the Ufficio filatelico e Numismatico -Governatorato, Vaticano featuring Ancient Postal Routes emanating from the Vatican City State during the 6th & 11th Centuries AD
Vinod Khurana has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very impressively detailed."
Thank you, Vinodji.
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very impressive!"
Thank you, Trikha sahab.
DeleteRsanker Sharma has commented:
ReplyDelete"Absolutely amazing."
Thank you, Sharma sahab.
Delete