Silver Coin 5 Oz Paradiso - Dante Alighieri - Divine Comedy 2021 Antique Standard

Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia - Paradiso

This unique silver coin, issued by the Republic of Cameroon in 2021, is made of the purest 99.9% silver and weighs 5 Oz (155.5 g) with a patinated Antique Standard finish, and commemorates the 700th anniversary of the publication of Dante Alighieri's epic poem The Divine Comedy.
The coin artistically depicts the Paradiso described in the final of the three parts of the allegorical epic, which is one of the immortal works of world literature.

The reverse of the coin depicts God as the face of a man in its centre. The centre of the coin represents the Empyreum, the seat of God, which is surrounded by a legion of angels in a circle. The angelic beings in the heavens are engaged in prayer, contemplation or playing various musical instruments. The artistically valuable high relief stamping is elaborated in remarkable detail, which is evident when looking at the flood of angel wings. The motif is complemented by the stylized inscription "PARADISO" at the bottom edge of the coin.
Dante Alighieri wrote his vast epic The Divine Comedy from around 1306. He completed the work just a year before his death in 1321. It depicts the medieval perception of Christianity in a pictorial manner. He uses many symbols and references to contemporary society and history. The epic is divided into three parts, which are linked by the story of Dante's journey from hell (Inferno) through purgatory (Purgatorio) to paradise (Paradiso). In Hell and Purgatory, his guide is the Roman poet Virgil. As a pagan, however, he cannot enter paradise with Dante, so the author's dream woman Beatrice replaces him in this task.
Dante describes paradise as a perfect place full of harmony; it is eternal, unchanging and permeated with divine light. Apart from God, it is inhabited by angels and the human souls of the righteous. The entrance of departed souls is limited by the number of angels cast down in the heavenly battle waged by Lucifer. When this difference is made up, the end of the world and the Last Judgment will come. Each man will be judged and, according to his works, saved or damned.
Souls in Paradise dwell together regardless of their merits, but each experiences a different measure of bliss. The author divided souls into seven circles according to their actions and circumstances. The seven circles are named after the sun, moon or planets affecting the fulfillment of the soul's desires. In the eighth circle of heaven he placed the stars and in the ninth circle the angels. The tenth circle is the Empyreum, which at the same time permeates the other circles and unites them into one whole. The Empyreum is where God resides and is the true paradise.
Dante also encounters a number of historical figures as he wanders through paradise. He mentions the saints St Dominic, St Francis, St Bernard, St Benedict and the medieval rulers Charlemagne, Albrecht I of Habsburg, Henry VII of Luxembourg and Constance of Sicily.

The obverse bears a line-split inscription commemorating the anniversary of "700 THE DIVINE COMEDY" and a profile portrait of Dante Alighieri. Its likeness is based on a page-turning painting by Sandro Botticelli of 1495, which depicts the Italian poet as a festooned intellectual with strong, sharp features and an eagle nose.
Information is also given on the country of origin "REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN", the face value "5000 FRANCSA CFA" and the year of issue "2021".

The uniqueness of the coin is presented by the luxury packaging. It consists of a wooden case, a certificate, a summary of the poem in three languages and a book cover. All parts are marked with the description of the anniversary edition. The edition is limited to 333 copies for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: