The New Zealand Mint has released the fifth one-ounce silver Proof coin in its Creatures of Greek Mythology series, which launched late last year with the debut of the Cerberus issue. The new coin features the Cyclopes, one of a race of giants with a single eye in the center of their foreheads. Like other releases in this series, the 99.9% silver coin measures 40 mm in diameter, has a mintage limit of 2,000 pieces, and it available for $80.00 USD.
The reverse features an image of Polyphemus, an intoxicated man-eating Cyclopes, who is about to be blinded by Odysseus as depicted in Homer’s The Odyssey. Inscribed near the rim of the coin is 1 oz. 999 FINE SILVER.
All five Creatures of Greek Mythology coins are currently available on the Mint’s Web site. The previous issue in the series featured Gorgon and is show above.
The third coin issued carries an image of a Minotaur.
The second coin features the Centaur.
The first issue in the series was released in 2015 and features a depiction of a Cerberus.
All of the coins in this series share a common obverse image, which features Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Included along the rim of the coin are the inscriptions ELIZABETH II, NIUE, TWO DOLLARS, and 2016. The Cerberus coins is dated 2015, since it was released before the new year.
For more information on the New Zealand Mint’s Creatures of Greek Mythology series, please visit the Mint’s Web site.
Mark Hall says
Anyone see this coin – CHINESE ANCIENT MYTHICAL CREATURES 2OZ SILVER ANTIQUED HIGH RELIEF COIN – from the Perth Mint and know when it was released? I like the Chinese theme and only 1.5k minted. Thoughts?