2507) The Gold of the Scythians, Austria: "The Magic of Gold Coin Series" from the Mint of Austria: The Gold Coin Series of 100 Euro Gold Coins traces the mysterious nature of Gold in ancient cultures: Fourth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 12.10.2022:
Since time immemorial, Gold has had a special effect on those who behold it. Shining seductively, rarely encountered and blessed with a comforting weight, the solidity of gold has a quality of its own. No other metal has as much symbolic meaning as Gold and no other concrete substance has been linked with so many abstract concepts, including heavenliness, immortality, purity and power.
The Austrian Mint has brought out the "Magic of Gold Coin Series", which features ancient art treasures and the mysterious nature of Gold in Ancient cultures where the word ‘Gold’ is written on each of them in the respective script of the culture they explore - Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, the Incas, the Scythians, India and China.
All the coins are a reflection of ancient art treasures. What was made of gold in the past still is today and, as it has for thousands of years, gold still has a mysterious and magical power. This Coin Series tells the story of the value of gold and the magical role it has played in advanced civilisations.
With the first coin in the Magic of Gold Coin Series we travelled back in time to Ancient Mesopotamia, ‘the land between two rivers’, the Tigris and the Euphrates. In Mesopotamian culture the ownership of Gold was associated with high standing and all Gold had to be handed over to the ruling classes and religious leaders. It was reserved for the powerful and the even more powerful – the gods. Mesopotamian Gold was mainly sourced from Egypt, where it was believed that the streets were paved with the precious metal.
The second Coin featured the "Gold of the Pharaohs" from Ancient Egypt. An aura of mystery surrounds The Gold of the Pharaohs, the second coin in The "Magic of Gold Coin Series", which traces the mysterious nature of gold in Ancient cultures. Made of pure gold, the ‘flesh of the gods’ and the symbol of eternity in Ancient Egypt, the coin features the death mask of the ‘boy king’, Tutankhamun.
More than 3,000 years old, the most celebrated of all the famous burial objects uncovered in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings is still casting its spell in the 21st century.
The third Coin depicted the allure of the "Gold of the Incas":
From the 13th to the 16th centuries, the Incas ruled over a huge, highly developed empire made up of hundreds of Andean tribes, the origins of which were derived from a sacred place, star or animal.
The official religion was the Sun Cult. Temples dedicated to the sun were built throughout the realm.
The Incas believed that gold was the Sun's tears and a representation of the sun's regenerative powers.
The Fourth Commemorative Gold Coin depicts the Gold of the Scythians:
The Header/Banner shows the Reverse of the 100 Euro Gold Coin against a background representation of a Scythian temporary dwelling
Some 2,500 years ago, the nomadic Scythian people had a talent for celebrating animals.
This was helped by an extraordinary sense of beauty that was awakened and nourished by the brilliance of gold – a brilliance showcased on the fourth Coin in "The Magic of Gold Series", which traces the mysterious nature of gold in ancient cultures.
The Scythians were also skilled in domesticating animals.
Among the earliest peoples to master mounted warfare, from the 7th to the 3rd century BC the Scythians moved with their horses and sheep from grazing area to grazing area on the steppes of what is present day Southern Russia and Ukraine.
The Scythian culture disappeared a long time ago, but it lives on through the magic of gold.
What remains of their long-lost culture are impressive burial mounds, known as Kurgans, which are rich in the precious metal.
Since the 19th century, the burial robes of Scythian princes decorated with hundreds of gold sheets have been discovered by archaeologists excavating Kurgans.
Women's veils and bonnets decorated in this way have also been unearthed.
Pressed from gold foil, these pieces were often decorated using elements of ‘animal style’ art; the stylised animals were thought to have supernatural powers.
Quivers, dagger hilts and scabbards, ornamental shields and sceptre handles decorated with thick gold sheet have also been found, as have neck rings and bracelets made of solid gold.
The Gold Coin:
The specifications of the 100 Euro Gold Coin are:
Coin Series Theme: "The Magic of Gold Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Gold of the Scythians"; Coin issue Date/Year: 12.10.2022; Denomination: 100 Euros; Metal Composition: .986 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 0.5 Oz or 15.78 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Thickness: 1.65 mm; Mint: Austrian Mint, Vienna; Maximum Mintage: 20,000; Coin Quality: Proof; Presentation Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes. The Coin is Guaranteed by the Austrian Mint; Coin Designers: Mag. Helmut Andexlinger, Herbert Wähner.
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Vinod Khurana has commented:
ReplyDelete"Really Gold has been attracting everyone since centuries. Nice post."
Thank you so much, Vinodji. This is a very popular series from the Austrian mint, Vienna. It is an annual series. We are going to have India featuring in the 2023 October gold coin.
DeleteVinod Khurana has further commented:
Delete"Rajeev Prasad ji, glad to know about gold coins to be issued featuring India."
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Interesting information 👍"
Thank you Trikha sahab.
Delete