3831) 5$ "Black Death", - Human Tragedies, Gdansk Mint, Poland: Third Coin of the Series "Human Tragedies" which depicts disasters that have shaken humanity: Date/Year of Coin issue: 30.04.2024:
5$ - Human Tragedies - Black Death:
The third coin from the Human Tragedies series. The series depicts events that have shaken humanity. This Coin was idsued after the Hiroshima and Chernobyl Coins.
About the "Black Death":
The disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread by fleas and through the air. One of the most significant events in European history, the Black Death had far-reaching population, economic, and cultural impacts. It was the beginning of the second plague pandemic. The plague created religious, social and economic upheavals, with profound effects on the course of European history.
The origin of the Black Death is not clear.
Genetic analysis suggests Yersinia pestis bacteria evolved approximately 7,000 years ago, at the beginning of the Neolithic, with flea-mediated strains emerging around 3,800 years ago during the late Bronze Age. The immediate territorial origins of the Black Death and its outbreak remain unclear, with some evidence pointing towards Central Asia, China, the Middle East, and Europe.
The pandemic was reportedly first introduced to Europe during the siege of the Genoese trading port of Kaffa in Crimea by the Golden Horde army of Jani Beg in 1347.
From Crimea, it was most likely carried by fleas living on the black rats that travelled on Genoese ships, spreading through the Mediterranean Basin and reaching North Africa, West Asia, and the rest of Europe via Constantinople, Sicily, and the Italian Peninsula. There is evidence that once it came ashore, the Black Death mainly spread from person-to-person as pneumonic plague, thus explaining the quick inland spread of the epidemic, which was faster than would be expected if the primary vector was rat fleas causing bubonic plague.
In 2022, it was discovered that there was a sudden surge of deaths in what is today Kyrgyzstan from the Black Death in the late 1330s; when combined with genetic evidence, this implies that the initial spread may have been unrelated to the 14th century Mongol conquests previously postulated as the cause.
The Black Death was the second great natural disaster to strike Europe during the Late Middle Ages (the first one being the Great Famine of 1315–1317) and is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of the European population, as well as approximately 33% of the population of the Middle East.
There were further outbreaks throughout the Late Middle Ages and, also due to other contributing factors (the crisis of the late Middle Ages), the European population did not regain its 14th century level until the 16th century.
Outbreaks of the plague recurred around the world until
the early 19th century.
A Summary of the "Black Death Epidemic":
The Black Death epidemic erupted in Central Asia, from where it reached the Crimea via the Silk Road in 1346, and from there spread to the Mediterranean basin and all of Europe, likely carried by fleas parasitizing on brown rats inhabiting the trade ships of the time.
It is estimated that the plague caused the death of 30–60% of the population of Europe at that time. Globally, the population was reduced to 350–375 million and took 150 years to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
The Coin:
The Black Death Coin refers to one of the greatest epidemics, which in 1346 took a huge toll and reduced the population from 450 to 350 million.
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The Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin features a fragment of a characteristic mask worn by doctors of the plague-stricken, in whose lens is reflected a figure symbolising the plague. Next to it, we see a wooden cart with people lying lifeless due to the ruthless disease.
The coin also bears the inscription Black Death 1346.
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On the Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin, we see the danse macabre - an allegorical dance of death, expressing the equality of all people in the face of death.
The coin is characterised by high relief. The mask's eyepiece is covered with UV printing and epoxy resin imitating glass. Some elements of the coin glow in the dark.
The coin was minted in a limited edition, only 500 pieces worldwide. Its face value is $5, and the issuer is the island of Niue.
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Coin Series Theme: Human Tragedies; Coin Theme: Black Death- Catastrophe; Denomination: 5 $ (Five Dollars); Country: Niue Island; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag 999); Weight: 62.2 g or 2.00 oz; Size: Ø 45 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish (AF); Additions/Modifications: Fluorescent Printing, Numbered Edge; Mintage: 500 pcs; Date of issue: 2024-04; Accessories: Certificate of Authenticity (COA); Presentation Box: Yes.
Links to other posts on Ukrainian Coins/Banknotes on this Blog:
7) "Sovka roskoshnaja" ("Staurophora celsia") Moth, Ukraine: Sterling Silver Proof (10 Hryvnia) and Cupro-nickel (2 Hrvynia) coins issued under its "Native Flora and Fauna Coin Series" by the National Bank of Ukraine
8) 1075 years since Princess Olga (890-969 AD), Ukraine: A Silver Proof Coin brought out by the National Bank of Ukraine,minted by the Ukrainian Mint: Year of issue: 2020
Links on posts from Poland:
1) A 100 Rouble Banknote issued by Russia to commemorate the XXII Winter Olympics - (07-23 February 2014) held at Sochi, Russia
2) Commemorative Coins issued when the 1980 22nd Summer Olympics were held in Moscow (19.07.1980 to 03.08.1980)
3) 2018 "Federation Internationale de Football Association" (FIFA) World Cup being held in Russia between 14.06.2018 &15.07.2018: Some Coins and stamps issued by Russia, Australia, Hungary, Spain & France to commemorate the Tournament/Championship
4) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020
Links to other Coins in the Cyborg Revolution Coin Series" issued in this Series:
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the PLague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
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