Silver Coin 2 Oz Games Over Time - Piskvorky 2022 Antique Standard

Games Through the Ages - Noughts and Crosses

Issued by the State of Tuvalu in 2022, this unique 2 oz. 99.99% silver coin with an antique finish offers a look back at games through the ages, dominated globally by paintball.

Eleven inner circles decorate the coin's wide reverse circle, featuring the games that have provided entertainment and competition to people from different cultures over the millennia. Clockwise are playing cards, dominoes, spinning dice, chess, snakes and ladders, terni lapilli (the ancient Roman version of biscuits), mah-jong, checkers, astragalus, backgammon and dice. A 24Kt gold-plated stainless steel insert with a functional miniature of the 3 x 3 game of pipsqueak is placed in the center of the coin. The cross or wheel symbol can be selected by turning the stone around the inserted pin. The mint mark "P" and the initials of the designer "SR" are incorporated into the coin's design.
Games represent one of the oldest forms of social interaction of mankind. Despite modern electronic alternatives, many of them continue to provide a fun social activity when family and friends gather.
The principle of Tic-Tac-Toe, which we know as the game of puzzles, has emerged independently around the world. The most famous original version of terni lapilli dates back to ancient Rome and the 1st century BC. The name of the game means three pebbles at a time and defines the player's goal of moving one of the three stones across the board to the desired position in each turn. Playing grids engraved into flat stones and floors could be found in various places throughout Rome. In the Middle Ages, this reason, coupled with the possible arrangement of the digits 1 - 9 in the same sum, was behind the widespread belief in its magical power stemming from pagan rituals. It was not until the 19th century that the mystical connection was abandoned and the game of Noughts and Crosses began to spread again from the UK.

The circle on the obverse bears a small portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at the top, which is mirrored at the bottom by the playing grid of the Roman game of terni lapilli. On the rim of the coin are the inscriptions 'QUEEN ELIZABETH II', 'TUVALU' and details of the denomination, weight, silver purity and year of issue.

The coin comes in a gift box with a transparent lid and a certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of 2,500 pieces for the whole world.

This product is part of the following product sets: