2627) "The Healing Power of the Bear - Americas", Austria (Oesterreich Republic): "The Eyes of the Continents Coin Series": The fifth Release in the Series of 20 Euro Silver Coins issued by the Austrian Mint, Vienna (AMV): Date/Year of Coin issue: 18.01.2023:
The Austrian Mint has brought out its latest coin in its ongoing series titled “Eyes of the Continents,” which introduces five exceptional animals, each one embodying a special characteristic for which it was praised in the myths and tales of previous cultures.
The coins’ primary focus is creating "eye-to-eye contact" through design and highlighting exceptional creatures such as the snake, owl, tiger, elephant, and bear.
The fifth design features the American Bear.
AMERICAS – THE HEALING POWER OF THE BEAR:
For the indigenous people of North America, a bear was not just a bear and humans merely one type of being among other beings.
The bear also possessed a soul and was considered a supernatural being that was viewed with a mixture of awe and fear.
The calmness, self-assurance and imperturbability expressed in the bear’s expression on the Healing Power of the Bear are a fitting reflection of this.
In the mythology of the indigenous people of North America, who nowadays refer to themselves as Native Americans or First Nations, great strength and healing powers were attributed to the bear. In some legends, bears instructed humans in medicine and herbalism and there are even stories in which bears change their shape to live unrecognised among humans.
The Native Americans of the Great Plains performed a bear dance before hunting a grizzly, in which the hunters, led by a shaman in a bear skin, asked for the protection of supernatural powers. Before, during and after the bear hunt, many taboos were enforced with the aim of reconciling the bear's soul with death. These rituals express a view of the world that is unwilling to make a distinction between humans and nature. Animals, plants, stones and the elements also possess a soul. The serious-looking and good-natured expression of the bear on the Healing Power of the Bear reminds us that we should live in harmony with nature.
The Commemorative Coin:
The Reverse of the 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin features a stylised bear head in close-up looking directly at the viewer through emerald-green eyes made of crystals by Swarovski®.
The name of the issuing country - "REPUBLIK OSTERREICH" (Republic of Austria) is inscribed around the primary design, with each letter shown in an indent created by the triangular points in the pattern around the edge.
The denomination "20 EURO" is inscribed at centre left.
The year of issue "2023" is at lower bottom.
The specifications of the Coin are:
Country: Oesterreich Republik ("Republic of Austria"); Date/Year of Coin issue: 18.01.2023; Coin Denomination: 20 Euro; Coin Series Theme: "The Eyes of the World"; Coin Theme: "The Healing Power of the Bear"; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 34.00 mm; Fine Weight: 20.74 grams / 0.66 oz; Total Weight: 22.42 grams; Coin Designers: Anna Rastl, Mag. Helmut Andexlinger; Mintage: 30,000 pieces.
- Each Proof-quality Silver Coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case.
Links: Crypto-Currency Stamps & Coin Posts:
Posts on Grimm's Fairy Tales on this Blog:
Links to posts on Austria and Germany on this Blog:
Related Links on this Blog:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Excellent narrative."
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
Delete