Silver Coin 2 Oz Lost Civilizations - Phoenicia and Carthage Ultra high relief 2022 Antique Standard

Lost Civilizations - Phoenicia & Carthage - Ultra High Relief

This unique silver coin is issued by the State of Palau for 2022 and weighs 2 Oz (62.2 g) in Ultra High Relief in Antique Standard finish and purity of 99.9% pure silver. Phoenicia and its colony of Carthage was chosen as the theme for the second coin in the "Lost Civilizations" series.

The reverse side of the coin brings back to life the main street of Tyre in Phoenicia. It depicts the still preserved triumphal arch under which a magnificent chariot passes. Merchants, vendors and dyers producing the precious Tyrian purple ensure a bustling trade. Fabrics in rich colours of nacho, blue and yellow are selectively coloured. The new Smartminting technology has made it possible to create ultra-high relief in remarkable fine detail.
Phoenicia was once a powerful civilization in what is now Lebanon. It was founded during the classical era of antiquity around 2,500 BC. Among its most important cities were Tyre, Byblos and Sidon. The Phoenicians were skilled traders in natural resources. They excelled in shipbuilding and maritime navigation. They founded colonial cities on their voyages around the Mediterranean. They offered shelter to ships and also served as trading hubs, paying royalties to their founders. The most famous Phoenician colony was Carthage, which grew into a thriving metropolis.
The ships of Phoenician merchants were heralded from afar by sails in the colour of the Tyrian nave. The source of the purple pigment was very difficult to obtain. It was made from extracting the mucous secretions of sea snails. The rarity of the dye was reflected in the cost of the finished fabric, which only the upper classes could afford. For this reason, Phoenician purple is also known as imperial or royal purple.

The obverse depicts Phoenician ships sailing from the docks of Carthage. They emerge from the image in ultra-high relief created by Smartminting embossing technology. Included is the national emblem of the Republic of Palau with the inscription "REPUBLIC OF PALAU", the year of issue and the denomination "$10".

The coin comes in a deluxe box along with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 555 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.