3062) Veiled Chameleon, Cook Islands: "Eclectic Nature Coin Series": Proof Coin Minted By: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich in colour and Smartminting Technology: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2023:
The Header/Banner showcases the Obverse and Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Proof Coin with applied colour against a background representation of a velied Chameleon facing left. The Header is titled - "ECLECTIC NATURE" at top left and is marked "CIT" at extreme left.
The Government and Treasury of the Cook Islands have authorised the release of a new coin, which is part of a collector series titled - “Eclectic Nature.” Launched in 2021, the coins include designs highlighting creatures with the most colourful existence found in nature.
Following on from the depiction of the Siamese fighting fish in 2021 and the European Roller bird in 2022, the third in the series includes the ever-changing Chameleon (2023).
What is eclecticism:
The word eclecticism is derived from the Greek word "ἐκλέγω" (meaning “to choose the best”) or "eklektikos" (from the verb eklegein, “picked out or to select”).
The term is used by art and intellectual historians to describe a selection and recombination of various characteristics that actually do not belong together but, in some cases, come together to feature a specific commonality.
Eclecticism is the combination or mixing of different styles, theories or ideas in order to gain complementary knowledge on a subject.
Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases. However, this is often without conventions or rules dictating how or which theories were combined.
It can sometimes seem inelegant or lacking in simplicity, and eclectics are sometimes criticized for lack of consistency in their thinking.
It is, however, common in many fields of study. For example, most psychologists accept certain aspects of behaviorism, but do not attempt to use the theory to explain all aspects of human behavior.
Eclecticism in ethics, philosophy, politics and religion is also known as "syncretism".
Origin:
Eclecticism was first practiced by a group of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers who attached themselves to no real system but selected from existing philosophical beliefs those doctrines that seemed most reasonable to them.
Well known eclectics in Greek philosophy were the Stoics Panaetius and Posidonius, and the New Academics Carneades and Philo of Larissa.
Among the Romans, Cicero was thoroughly eclectic, as he united the Peripatetic, Stoic, and New Academic doctrines. Philo's successor and Cicero's teacher Antiochus of Ascalon is credited with influencing the Academy so that it finally transitioned from Skepticism to Eclecticism. Other eclectics included Varro and Seneca the Younger.
Even though eclecticism had a Greek origin, the term was rarely used, and it was even given a negative connotation by historians of Greek thought, associating it with the description for impure and unoriginal thinking.
Scholars such as Clement of Alexandria maintained that eclecticism had a long history in Greek philosophy, and it is underpinned by a deeper metaphysical and theological conviction concerning the absolute/God as the source of all noble thoughts and that all parts of the truth can be found among the various philosophical systems.
The 3rd edition of the "Eclectic Nature Coin Series" features the Chameleon:
The veiled Chameleon is a remarkable species that hails from the arid regions of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The most notable feature is a large, elaborate bony protrusion atop its head, which is called a casque. Both males and females sport this fancy headgear, which allegedly serves to channel water droplets down into the reptiles’ mouths, a crucial adaptation in their dry habitats.
The latest coin features the veiled Chameleon, which lives in various habitats in Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia. It's incredible range of colour includes green, brown, blue, white, black, yellow, and orange, as well as numerous intermediate shades.
A typical characteristic of this reptile is its helmet-like casque, a bony elevation on the skull, which makes the chameleon appear much larger and more aggressive.
Why exactly do chameleons change their colours, and more interestingly, how does this occur?
In a relaxed state, the nanocrystals in a chameleon’s dermis form a tight lattice, and as such, they appear green or brown. When they’re feeling excited when trying to fight off a competitor or attract a mate, the nanocrystals will move apart to form a loose lattice, showing off their brighter red and yellow colours.
As with many species, it is the male chameleon whose colours shine the brightest, mostly when it tries to scare off a rival.
The Coin:
The Obverse & Reverse of the $5 Silver Proof Coin presented together side-by-side.
The coins have been commissioned by CIT in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and have been minted by the B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt at their facilities in Munich, on behalf of the treasury of the Cook Islands.
The incredible vivid colouring on the coins has been achieved both by smartminting ultra high relief technology and a carefully applied colour application.
The Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin features a chameleon whose colours vary in both parts of the image on a branch facing to the right.
Below is the inscription "ECLECTIC NATURE" over a field that is divided into two unequal parts, one side a mirrored Proof finish, and the other with a black textured finish.
The Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin features an effigy of Late Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials appear below the Queen's neck.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II 5 DOLLARS COOK ISLANDS. 2023".
The specifications of the 5 Dollars Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: The Cook Islands; Date/Year of Coin issue: 25.09.2023; Denomination/Face value of Coin: $5 (Five Dollars); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Weight: 1.00 Oz or 31.1 grams; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour (PAC); Mint: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich in colour and Smartminting Technology, on behalf of Coin Invest Trust (CIT), for the Cook Islands; Mintage: 1,500 pieces.
- Each large-size Silver Proof coin is presented in a custom window-effect box for ease of viewing or display and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
Links:
Links to other Coins in the Cyborg Revolution Coin Series" issued in this Series:
Most Haunted Places Coin Series:
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
