3351) "The Statue of Zeus at Olympia", Niue Island: "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World": A $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint: Year of Coin issue: August 2022:
While the entries have varied over the centuries, the seven traditional wonders are - the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Placing the wonders in modern-day countries, two of the wonders were located in Greece, two in Turkey, two in Egypt, and one in Iraq.
Of the seven wonders, only the Pyramid of Giza, which is also by far the oldest of the wonders, still remains standing, with the others being destroyed over the centuries.
There is scholarly debate over the exact nature of the Hanging Gardens, and there is doubt as to whether they existed at all.
Gold coin Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Statue of Zeus at Olympia proof:
The fourth of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World is the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. The Czech Mint commemorates the legendary monument by issuance of a gold coin weighing one troy ounce.
Zeus was the supreme deity of the ancient Greeks. He ruled not only people but also the other gods from the top of Mount Olympus.
He sent thunder and lightning to those who displeased him, but he could also love - especially women. Despite his divine power, he was not omniscient or omnipotent, and certainly not infallible.
He could be kind, generous and just, but he also had a big ego, was easily angered and vindictive... The ancient centre of the cult of Zeus was Olympia in the Peloponnese, famous as the birthplace of the Olympic Games and one of the most important City-States of the Greek Empire.
When mortals needed the advice of Zeus, they visited the temple, where priests mediated his will.
The sanctuary at Olympia, built in the 5th century BC, was truly magnificent. It was one of the largest temples in the world and the central statue of the ruler of the gods sitting on his throne became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
When an artist named Pheidias discovered it, astonished witnesses asked him whether he had ascended Mount Olympus to see Zeus or whether Zeus had descended from Olympus to show himself.
The dull ivory skin contrasted with the shining gold of his hair. The throne of cedar and ebony was covered with scenes from ancient Greek legends.
The stunned people had worshipped the majestic Zeus for eight centuries. Then the statue, which was moved to Constantinople, was burned by fanatical Christians who hated pagan idols…
The Coin:
The Obverse of the $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin, which is common to the whole cycle, then presents all seven wonders of the world - the Egyptian pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Feidius' statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the island of Pharos.
The inscriptions are - "NIUE ISLAND. 50 DOLLARS. ELIZABETH II".
As the coins of the Czech Mint are licensed by the island of Niue, their obverse sides bear a portrait and name of Queen Elizabeth II, a nominal value of 50 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2022.
The schedule of issuance has only 200 pieces of one-ounce coins.
Links to Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:
5) Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), Niue: First Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 01/2020
6) Nikola Tesla, Niue: Second Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue : Date of Coin issue: 03/2020
7) Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Niue: Third Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series", minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 07/2020
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