Silver Coin Egyptian Calendar 2 Oz 2021 Antique Standard

Egyptian calendar

The exclusive silver coin partially filled with semi-permeable resin issued by the State of Niue in 2021 in high relief weighing 2 Oz (62.2 g) in purity of the purest 99.9% silver with Antique Standard finish is inspired by the ancient Egyptians and brings an original take on the lunar calendar.

The reverse design depicts the annual calendar used in ancient Egypt. The system is based on the annual watershed of the life-giving Nile leading to the harvest of cultivated crops. The dependence of the Egyptians on sufficient flooding as a source of the moisture necessary for a sufficient harvest is expressed by the abundant use of plant motifs.
The calendar is stylized for the circular shape of the coin and clearly divided into three seasons of four months each. The individual die cuts are filled with resin in a brown hue and omit depictions of twelve deities against a background of columns of hieroglyphics. The main dividing lines converge in the inner central section, where they form a pyramid to frame the sacred symbol of the Eye of Horus (Vedjat), one of whose meanings is rule over the Nile Delta.
The ancient Egyptian calendar was not precisely given. Its only fixed point was the New Year, which heralded the heliacal rising of the brightest star, Sirius, over the horizon just before sunrise. The beginning of the year is indicated by the hieroglyph for the flood, Akhet, placed at the bottom of the inner circle. The second part of the year, marked by the hieroglyph Peret, continues clockwise through the planting and growing seasons. On the right, the year concludes with the harvest period, indicated by the hieroglyph Shemu.
Despite the inaccuracy of the calendar used, it is known that the ancient Egyptians were very skilled astronomers and mathematicians. Evidence of this can be seen, for example, in the construction of the temple of Abu Simbel. The original location of the temple allowed a unique phenomenon to be observed twice a year at the equinox. The first rays of sunrise passed through the inner part of the temple, where they illuminated the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II for twenty minutes.

The obverse shows the traditional portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with the initials of the artist and the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II", "NIUE ISLANDS", the denomination and the year of issue. The portrait of the monarch is set in a simplified pyramid shape against a background of hieroglyphic relief. The design is complemented by floral motifs identical to the reverse side of the coin. The mintmark and purity data are included.

The coin is supplied in a presentation box which contains a certificate of authenticity. The mintage is limited to 700 pieces for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: