Silver Coin 3 Oz Slavic Bestiary - Rusalka High Relief 2021 Antique Standard

Slavic Beastiary - Rusalka

An exclusive silver coloured coin issued by the State of Cameroon for 2022 in high relief weighing 3 Oz (93.3 g) in the purest 99.9% silver with Antique Standard finish is being released as part of the new Slavic Beastiary series. The first representative of Slavic mythology is the seductive water demoness Rusalka.

The motif on the reverse side of the coin depicts a mysterious image from the underwater world, which is illustrated by a colour print creating the illusion of bluish water. A rusalka with long hair and a fish tail emerges above the water surface. Two of her companions, as well as aquatic animals and plants, complete the elaborate scene. The emphasis is on the colourful print on the water lily flower, followed by the gilded name of the coin "RUSALKA" and the series "SLAVIC BESTIARY".
Rusalka has been firmly associated with the water element since the early Middle Ages. The beautiful demonesses were unpredictable when encountering humans. They could drown a man or dance him to death. They also allegedly kidnapped young men for their own pleasure.
The name rusalka dates back to the 16th century and is derived from rusa hair or the word rusa "river". The long hair was the source of their supernatural power and by combing it they could cause a flood. Young girls who drowned or committed suicide became rusalka. In the warmer months, they lived on the banks of bodies of water. Only when winter came did they retreat to the underwater world, where they took the form of mermaids.
The water fairy was only associated with the rusalka in later times. The fairytale opera Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák is undoubtedly a significant contributor to this. This work, which premiered in 1901 at the National Theatre, is one of the most famous Czech operas in the world.

The obverse of the coin bears the national emblem of the Republic of Cameroon with the inscription 'REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN' and the face value. The wide rim of the coin gives generous space for the combination of the themes of nature and mythology. The year of issue "2021" is placed at the top of the coin.

The coin comes with a certificate of authenticity in a wooden box and a thematic cover. The mintage is limited to 500 pieces for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: