2703) "Morannon - The Black Gate of Mordor", Niue Island: "THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ Coin Series": A Silver Coin minted by the New Zealand Mint, on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2023:
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"One Ring to rule them all, one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them".
The Ring made of "Ashta Dhatu" ("Eight Metals") in my possession:
When I was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where my father was a Senior Professor in the Medical College, we received a visit from a Maulvi ("Muslim holy man") who had divined that I was not succeeding in my entrance exams to the Medical College, as I was surrounded by a "Dark Power".
He recommended that I should wear a ring of "Ashta Dhatu" ("Eight Metals") which would ward off the Dark Powers and I would succeed in whatever undertaking I took in life.
An "Ashta Dhatu" Ring is prepared in a certain methodical way, with a few select metals, the method of making which, only a few ring makers are conversant with.
So, this ring was got prepared for me by my uncle with attendant mantras in light of the Sun at a certain auspicious time.
I have always worn this ring ever since and have succeeded in achieving my set goals, as I am always surrounded by the "light powers".
There is a proviso, that if I take off the ring for any reason whatsoever, I have to follow a certain method for re-wearing it, which again only a few persons (including me) know of.
The Lord of the Rings - by JRR Tolkien:
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I was rather pleased to discover a few years ago that J.R.R. Tolkien had written these two Tales - "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" which had these "Rings of Power" which had movies made out of them which had received world-wide acclaim. We have seen all the films on them, including one on the life of Tolkien himself.
The Lord of the Rings was one of the most successful franchises ever made, based on the books of Tolkien.
These books evolve around the hobbit "Frodo Baggins", who gets possession of a special ring. This is the instrument from the Dark Lord Sauron, who will do anything in his power to get a hold of the ring.
Frodo Baggins and his friends are therefore sent on an adventure through Middle Earth.
I am just wondering whether my "Ashta Dhatu" ring, if discovered some 1,000 years later by someone, will prove to be as lucky for the finder, as it has been for me.
Battle of the Morannon:
In J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel - "The Lord of the Rings", the "Battle of the Morannon" or the "Battle of the Black Gate", is the final confrontation in the War of the Ring.
Gondor and its allies send a small army ostensibly to challenge Sauron at the entrance to his land of Mordor. He supposes that they have with them the One Ring and mean to use it to defeat him.
In fact, the Ring is being carried by the hobbits Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee into Mordor to destroy it in Mount Doom, and the army is moving to distract Sauron from them.
Before the battle, a nameless leader, the "Mouth of Sauron", taunts the leaders of the army with the personal effects of Frodo and Sam.
The battle is joined, but just as it seems the army of Gondor will be overwhelmed, the Ring is destroyed, and the forces of Sauron lose heart. Mount Doom erupts, and Sauron's tower, Barad-dûr, collapses, along with the Black Gate. The army of Gondor returns home victorious, the War of the Ring won.
This was the final battle against Sauron in the War of the Ring, fought at the Morannon, the Black Gate of Mordor.
The Army of the West, led by Aragorn, marched on the gate to distract Sauron's attention from the hobbits Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, who were dangerously carrying the One Ring into Mordor.
It was hoped that Sauron would think Aragorn had the Ring and was now trying to use it to overthrow Mordor.
As the journey progressed, Aragorn was credited openly as "the King Elessar" by their heralds to challenge Sauron.
Aragorn had around 7,000 soldiers of Gondor and Rohan, some 6,000 foot and 1,000 horse. The army included King Éomer of Rohan, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, Elladan & Elrohir, the twin sons of Elrond, Beregond, a Guard of the Citadel of Minas Tirith, and five of the eight surviving members of the Fellowship of the Ring (Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Pippin).
They were ambushed by Orcs and Easterlings on the very spot where Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien had ambushed a company of Haradrim some two weeks earlier, but the enemy was beaten back without much loss.
Aragorn realized that this was an intentionally weak feint, meant to lure them into thinking that Sauron's army was exhausted. Later, some whose fear overcame them were sent to retake and hold the island of Cair Andros. Thus, the Army of the West was less than 6,000 strong at the Black Gate.
The Coin - The Black Gate of Mordor:
Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, this exquisite 1 Oz Silver Coin shows a close-up image of the mighty Black Gate and Tower of the Teeth in Mordor, from THE LORD OF THE RINGS™.
It is fully engraved in brilliant detail with added relief and texture, using sandblasting. The mirror-finish background complements the .999 pure Silver wonderfully.
The inscriptions are "TWO DOLLARS" (on the upper periphery) and the year of issue - "2023" (on the lower periphery).
The specifications of this Gold Coin are:
Country of issue: Niue Island; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Denomination: $2 (Two Dollars); Coin Series Theme: "THE LORD OF THE RINGS™"; Coin Theme: "The Black Gate of Mordor"; Minted By: The New Zealand Mint; On behalf of: Niue Island; Metal Composition: 999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1.00 Troy Oz; Diameter: 40.00 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish (AF); Mintage: 3,000 pieces.
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