Silver Coin Famous Explorers - Marco Polo 2 Oz 2022 Antique Standard

Famous Explorers - Marco Polo

This exclusive silver coin issued by the State of Niue in 2022 in high relief weighing 2 Oz (62.2 g) in the finest 99.9% pure silver with an Antique Standard finish is part of the six-part Famous Explorers series issued once a year. The famous Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo was chosen for the second coin.

The coin depicts the famous explorer Marco Polo on its reverse, travelling with a caravan on a camel through the lands of Asia. In the background is the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan in Ulaanbaatar. In the right part of the coin, Khan is having a conversation with Marco's father or uncle over tea in a tent. On the patinated surface in high relief, a hand-painted red coloured book of the famous travelogue entitled "Book of the Marvels of the World" contrasts. The name "Marco Polo" is not missing at the top of the coin.
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia on the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as The Book of the Wonders of the World and Il Milione). The book described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and grandeur of the Mongol Empire and China during the Yuan Dynasty, and gave them a comprehensive view of China, Persia, India, Japan, and other Asian countries and cities. The travelogue is the first geographical work on Asia and the most valuable source of historical information on Asia at that time. It is especially valuable for its fantastic legends from the early Middle Ages. East Asia is portrayed as very rich, abounding in gold, precious spices, ports with brisk trade and great cities.

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 year of issue. It includes purity information and mint mark. The right part of the coin depicts the Mongol warlord and emperor Kublai Khan in a tower carried by four elephants.

The coin comes in a wooden box with a themed cover and certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 500 pieces for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: