3036) Unicorn, "A symbol of Magic and Dreams", Republic of Ghana: Scottsdale Mint has brought out 5 Cedi Silver Proof Colour Coins crafted in 3 exquisite colours and a plain Silver format: Date/Year of Coins issue: 2023:
The Scottsdale Mint (SM) has issued 5 Cedi Silver Proof Colour Coins crafted in 3 exquisite colours and a plain Silver format, positioned against a background representation of a white castle.
The coin's intent is to focus on and highlight universal symbols written about throughout the ages that continue to connect all generations.
The Unicorn:
Beginning the series of Gold and Silver Proof Coins is the Unicorn.
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years or so been depicted as a white horse-like (or goat-like animal) with a long straight horn with spiralling grooves, cloven hooves, and sometimes a goat's beard.
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could be captured only by a virgin.
In encyclopedias, its horn was described as having the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. In medieval and Renaissance times, the tusk of the narwhal was sometimes sold as a unicorn horn.
A bovine type of unicorn is believed to have been depicted in seals of the Bronze Age Indus Valley civilization.
An equine form of the unicorn was mentioned by the ancient Greeks in accounts of natural history by various writers, including Ctesias, Strabo, Pliny the Younger, Aelian, and Cosmas Indicopleustes.
The Bible also describes an animal, the re'em, which some translations render as unicorn.
The unicorn continues to hold a place in popular culture. It is often used as a symbol of fantasy or rarity.
Indus stamp seal and modern impression - a unicorn and incense burner or a manger (6500–1900 BC).
A creature with a single horn, conventionally called a unicorn, is the most common image on the soapstone stamp seals of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization ("IVC"), from the centuries around 6000 BC. It has a body more like a cow than a horse, and a curved horn that goes forward, then up at the tip.
Typically, the unicorn faces a vertical object with at least two stages; this is variously described as a "ritual offering stand", an incense burner, or a manger.
The animal is always in profile on the IVC seals, but the theory that it represents animals with two horns, one hiding the other, is disproved by a (much smaller) number of small terracotta unicorns, probably toys, and the profile depictions of bulls, where both horns are clearly shown. It is thought that the unicorn was the symbol of a powerful "clan or merchant community" but may also have had some religious significance.
Present Day:
Presently, we think of it as a friendly white horse with a harmless horn and a rainbow coloured mane. The unicorn represents goodness, purity, and the ability to dream.
Today, more than a theme for children´s parties or a name given to successful start-ups, the unicorn is a testament to our infinite ability to perpetuate a legend.
The 2023 Ghana Unicorn Coins:
In the forest, magic and wonder prevail.
This legendary creature, often likened to the mightiest of lions, can only be tamed by the purity and innocence of a maiden. In this enchanting tale, the girl aims not to conquer through force, but to tame with grace.
The unicorn, a symbol of the impossible, as well as healing, and grace, comes to life in Scottsdale Mint's first-ever Unicorn Coin.
Crafted in three exquisite colours and packaged in a holographic glittered texture certi-lock package, as well as in the traditional Silver capsulised format, this coin features a radiant unicorn surrounded by a galaxy, its horn piercing the largest star.
1) The Unicorn Coin titled - "Jubilee":
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The Reverse of the Silver Pink Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Jubilee" features a radiant unicorn surrounded by a galaxy, its horn piercing the largest star.
The majestic Unicorn “Jubilee” is positioned in front of a castle, presents a timeless symbol of magic and imagination.
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On the Obverse of the Silver Pink Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Jubilee", Late Queen Elizabeth II's profile featured facing right, is placed amidst a celestial backdrop.
The peripheral inscriptions read - "REPUBLIC OF GHANA. ELIZABETH II. FIVE CEDIS. 1 TROY OUNCE. 2023. .999 FINE SILVER".
The Coin Card with a serialised Certi-Lock®
2) The Unicorn titled "Aurora":
The Reverse of the Silver Purple Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Aurora" features a radiant unicorn surrounded by a galaxy, its horn piercing the largest star.
The majestic Unicorn “Aurora” is positioned in front of a castle, presents a timeless symbol of magic and imagination.
On the Obverse of the Silver Purple Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Aurora", Late Queen Elizabeth II's profile featured facing right, is placed amidst a celestial backdrop.
The peripheral inscriptions read - "REPUBLIC OF GHANA. ELIZABETH II. FIVE CEDIS. 1 TROY OUNCE. 2023. .999 FINE SILVER".
The Coin Card with a serialised Certi-Lock®
3) The Unicorn titled "Blossom":
The Reverse of the Silver Rainbow Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Blossom" features a radiant unicorn surrounded by a galaxy, its horn piercing the largest star.
The majestic Unicorn “Aurora” is positioned in front of a castle, presents a timeless symbol of magic and imagination.
On the Obverse of the Silver Rainbow Coloured 5 Cedi Coin titled "Blossom", Late Queen Elizabeth II's profile featured facing right, is placed amidst a celestial backdrop.
The peripheral inscriptions read - "REPUBLIC OF GHANA. ELIZABETH II. FIVE CEDIS. 1 TROY OUNCE. 2023. .999 FINE SILVER".
The Coin Card with a serialised Certi-Lock®
4) The Silver Unicorn:
The Reverse of the Silver Coloured 5 Cedi Coin features a radiant unicorn surrounded by a galaxy, its horn piercing the largest star.
The majestic Unicorn is positioned in front of a castle, presents a timeless symbol of magic and imagination.
On the Obverse of the Silver Coloured 5 Cedi Coin Late Queen Elizabeth II's profile featured facing right, is placed amidst a celestial backdrop.
The peripheral inscriptions read - "REPUBLIC OF GHANA. ELIZABETH II. FIVE CEDIS. 1 TROY OUNCE. 2023. .999 FINE SILVER".
Coin specifications:
i) The specifications of the first coin Variant - "Jubilee" are:
Country of issue: Republic of Ghana; Date/Year: 2023; Coin Series Theme: "Unicorn - a symbol of Magic and Dreams"); Coin Theme: Unicorn - Jubilee"; Denomination/Face Value: 5 Cedi; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Troy oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied Colour (PAC); Minted By: Scottsdale Mint, Scottsdale, Arizona USA; Mintage: 2,000 pieces; Legal Tender: in Ghana; Packaging: Serialized Certi-Lock®.
ii) The specifications of the second coin Variant - "Aurora" are:
Country of issue: Republic of Ghana; Date/Year: 2023; Coin Series Theme: "Unicorn - a symbol of Magic and Dreams"); Coin Theme: Unicorn - Aurora"; Denomination/Face Value: 5 Cedi; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Troy oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied Colour (PAC); Minted By: Scottsdale Mint, Scottsdale, Arizona USA; Mintage: 2,000 pieces; Legal Tender: in Ghana; Packaging: Serialized Certi-Lock®.
iii) The specifications of the third coin Variant - "Rainbow" are:
Country of issue: Republic of Ghana; Date/Year: 2023; Coin Series Theme: "Unicorn - a symbol of Magic and Dreams"); Coin Theme: Unicorn - Rainbow"; Denomination/Face Value: 5 Cedi; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Troy oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied Colour (PAC); Minted By: Scottsdale Mint, Scottsdale, Arizona USA; Mintage: 2,000 pieces; Legal Tender: in Ghana; Packaging: Serialized Certi-Lock®.
iv) The specifications of the fourth coin Variant - "Silver" are:
Country of issue: Republic of Ghana; Date/Year: 2023; Coin Series Theme: "Unicorn - a symbol of Magic and Dreams"); Coin Theme: Unicorn - Rainbow"; Denomination/Face Value: 5 Cedi; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 1 Troy oz or 31.1 grams; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof-like (Pl); Minted By: Scottsdale Mint, Scottsdale, Arizona USA; Mintage: 15,000 pieces; Legal Tender: in Ghana; Packaging: Capsule On Chipboard.
Posts from Ghana:
2) Currency & Coinage of Ghana: Cedis & Pesewas
6) Two new Cedi Banknotes of GH200 & GH100 and a GH2 Cedi Coin introduced in 11/2019
Links to other interesting posts on our Ghana visit in 2013:
1) Lake Bosumchwe or Bosumchwi, Ghana
2) El Mina Castle/Fort, Cape Coast, Ghana
3) History of Coinage and Banknotes of Ghana
6) Larabanga mosque and the Mystic Stone
7) Food, Culture and Music of Ghana
9) Oware: The Ancient National Board Game of Ghana
Interesting posts from Sierra Leone:
Links to posts on Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Links to Posts on Turks and Caicos Islands:
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
For some other interesting posts on Currencies of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:
18) Sea Motifs, Bahamas: Gold Bullion Coins in the denominations of 100 Dollars (depicting a Blue Marlin) and 250 Dollars (depicting a Conch Shell): Coins issue date: 03.12.2019
19) A new Generation $100 Polymer Banknote, Trinidad and Tobago with enhanced security features to "raise the bar" for counterfeiters & unscrupulous elements: Banknote circulation date: 09.12.2019:
20) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020
21) New Polymer Banknotes, Trinidad and Tobago: The entire series will consist of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 and $1 denominations: $100 has already been issued on 09.12.2019
23) "Caribbean Sea-Horse", Barbados: $10 (Ten Dollars) 1.0 Oz. Gold Bullion Coins & $1 (One Dollar) 1.0 Oz. Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Scottsdale Mint; Year of issue: 2020
24) Cayman Islands, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): A set of identically numbered Banknotes of the presently circulating Banknotes from the "D" Series of Banknotes
Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:
26) A new 100 Boliviano Banknote from Bolivia: issued by the "Banco Centrale de Bolivia" (Central Bank of Bolivia) on 15.01.2019 under its new 2018 Banknote Series
27) Central Bank of Uruguay ("Banco Centrale del Uruguay"): 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) - 1967-2017 - celebrated with the issue of a 50 Peso Commemorative Banknote on 14.09.2018
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
Raj Kumar Srivastava has commented:
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DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting and colourful presentation 🌹👍"
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative and interesting post."