2020 3 Oz Silver $20 Cook Islands Archaeology N Symbolism DENDERA Zodiac Gilded Coin.
DESCRIPTION
THE DENDERA Zodiac is the 4th coin in the Archaeology and Symbolism series.
Dome shaped and smartminted on a large 65 mm diameter surface, it's exceptional detailing is further enhanced with a deep 24k Gold Plating.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The sculptured Dendera zodiac (or Denderah zodiac) is a widely known Egyptian bas relief from the ceiling of the pronaos (or portico) of a chapel dedicated to Osiris in the Hathor temple at Dendera, containing images of Taurus (the bull) and Libra (the scales).
This chapel was begun in the late Ptolemaic period; its pronaos was added by the emperor Tiberius.
This led Jean Francois Champollion to date the relief to the Greco Roman period, but most of his contemporaries believed it to be of the New Kingdom.
The relief, which John H. Rogers characterized as "the only complete map that we have of an ancient sky", has been conjectured to represent the basis on which later astronomy systems were based.
It is now on display at the Muse du Louvre, Paris.
Coin description
The reverse of the coin depicts the Zodiac of Dendera with a bowl shaped center, all its characteristics, and inscriptions: “Dendera Zodiac” (the name) and “2020” (the year of issue).
It has ultra high relief and interesting small details of the original Zodiac of Dendera.
The obverse side of the coin depicts the Coat of Arms of the Cook Island in a special appearance with the inscriptions: “ELIZABETH II” (name of the Queen), “COOK ISLANDS” (the issuing country), “ARCHEOLOGY & SYMBOLISM” (the name of the series) and “20 DOLLARS” (the face value).
Background information
The Dendera Zodiac is a widely known Egyptian bas relief and was added to the ceiling of a chapel dedicated to Osiris inside the Hathor Temple in the Dendera Temple complex around 50 BC.
The Dendera Zodiac is one of the best preserved ancient depictions of the observable stars.
It shows all five planets known to the Ancient Egyptians in an alignment that occurs once every one thousand years and both a solar and lunar eclipse.
The sky disc is centered on the north pole star, and Ursa Minor is depicted as a jackal.
An inner disc is composed of constellations showing the signs of the zodiac.
The original Zodiac of Dendera currently resides at the Louvre in Paris.
Limited Mintage Of 99 Pieces Worldwide.
SPECIFICATION
Country: Cook Island
Year: 2020
Face Value: $20
Metal: Silver
Purity: .999
Weight: 3 Oz - 93.3g
Diameter: 65 mm
Mintage: 99 Pieces WORLDWIDE
Finish: 24K GOLD PLATED N ULTRA HIGH RELIEF
Certificate COA: Yes
Box: Yes.
