Silver Coin 2 Oz Eternal Statues - Venus de Melo Ultra high relief 2017 Proof

Eternal Sculptures - Venus de Milo

A unique silver coin issued by the State of Palau for 2017 weighing 2 Oz of the purest 99.9% silver in high relief and Black Proof. Utilizing the new technological possibilities of Smartminting, it showcases the artistic series of the Eternal Sculptures through a double-sided motif. The second coin of the series is dedicated to a marble statue - Venus of Melia.

The reverse side of the coin offers a reproduction of the ancient Greek statue of the goddess of love Aphrodite, or in the opinion of other experts, the goddess of the sea Amphitrite. The preserved marble torso without arms depicts the goddess in a relaxed pose. Her face and body became the image of the ideal of female beauty in antiquity.
The special colouring used for the main motif creates an amazing marble effect. The new Smartminting technology made it possible to create a high relief elaborated in remarkable fine detail on both sides of the coin. The motif is complemented by the logo of the "ETERNAL SCULPTURES" series and the name of the coin "VENUS DE MILO". The rim of the coin is decorated with a delicate floral motif with the year of issue "MMXVII" inset.
The Venus of Meles was named after the site of its discovery on the island of Mélos, located north of Crete. It was discovered in 1820 by local farmers in a burial niche. The statue was broken in half and fragments of the arms and the base were also found in its surroundings, which were later lost. The work has been dated to between 130 and 100 BC. The authorship originally attributed to the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles is not very likely. The discrepancy of 300 years between the life of Praxiteles and the creation of the statue is more consistent with the inspiration of the master's work.
Shortly after the discovery of the statue of Venus, it was already clear that it was a unique find. The captain of the French ship Estafette, which was anchored in the local harbour, initiated urgent communication with the French ambassador, the Marquis de Rivière. The ancient relic was quietly purchased from the farmers for only 1,000 francs and promptly removed from the island. In France, it went as a gift to the royal court of Louis XIII. With the fall of the monarchy, it became part of the collections of the Louvre in Paris, where it is one of the most valuable exhibits.

The obverse depicts the back of the same statue. The colouring technology repeats the marble effect for the main motif. The design includes the national emblem of the Republic of Palau with the inscription "REPUBLIC OF PALAU", the year of issue and the denomination "10$". The circle is decorated with an original floral design.

The coin comes in a deluxe box along with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 999 pieces for the entire world!

Smartminting® is a revolutionary technology in the field of modern numismatics. The greatest advantage is the dramatic and unsurpassed heights of relief combined with intricate detail. High and ultra-high relief is possible on both sides of the coin, and the top of the relief can be placed as close to the edge as possible. However, the conventional embossing process not only requires more material (higher weight), but more importantly, the highest point must be concentrated in the center of the coin, which does not reach the same height as with Smartminting® technology. Another bonus of Smartminting® technology is the possibility of minting even in the highest Proof quality for coloured coins and, of course, the Antique Standard finish remains.

This product is part of the following product sets: