With its great pyramids and hieroglyphic system of pictorial writing, Ancient Egypt has left an indelible imprint on the history of mankind.
Hugely important to Ancient Egyptians was gold. Considered to be the skin of the sun god Ra, the metal was prized by both pharaohs and priests, being extensively utilised on monuments, for jewellery and in funerary art – most famously the death mask of Tutankhamun.
In a unique numismatic offering depicting many significant icons from ancient Egypt, this fabulous new collector piece features a remarkable domed centrepiece containing 24-carat gold particles suspended in purified mineral oil.
DESIGN GUIDE
Golden Treasures of Ancient Egypt
2019 2oz Silver Antiqued Coin
Eye of Horus: an Ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, healing and good health, the Eye of Horus was thought to help the dead pass safely into the afterlife. Also known as the wedjat eye, the popular amulet was commonly placed on mummified bodies.
Pyramid: huge monumental burial sites erected for the Egyptian pharaohs, pyramids played an important role in the transfer of the dead king between Earth, where it was important his physical body was properly preserved, and the afterlife, where his spirit would dwell with the gods. Symbolising the rays of the sun, the shape of the pyramid was adopted to help the pharaoh’s soul ascend to heaven and gain eternal life.
Jackal: the god of mummifying and the afterlife, Anubis ushered the souls of the dead into the hereafter. He was represented as a man with the head of jackal, an animal often seen in cemeteries.
Cat: valued by ancient Egyptians as domestic animals which killed grain-stealing rats and mice, cats were deemed to offer the power of protection and were chosen to represent several ancient Egyptian deities, including Bastet, the goddess of fertility and childbirth.
Pottery: ancient Egyptians were skilled potters who produced decorative vases and bowls not just for everyday use. They were also placed in tombs to provide a ready supply of food and drink for those passing into the afterlife.
Camel: strongly associated with Egypt for thousands of years, camels facilitated trade and promoted prosperity in the ancient Kingdom.
Isis: the most important deity of ancient Egypt, Isis was the goddess of marriage, fertility and motherhood. Her roles included curing the sick and protecting the kingdom through the use of magic. Instrumental in the first mummification, she helped the dead enter the afterlife.
Falcon: the falcon was sacred to Horus, the king of the gods and the protector of the pharaoh. As the lord of the sky, Horus was represented as a falcon whose eyes symbolised the sun and the moon. According to ancient mythology, he lost an eye while battling a rival.
Ankh: the hieroglyphic sign of ankh symbolised life. The gods handed this sacred emblem to the Pharaoh. As the key to the gates of death and what lay beyond, it delivered him everlasting existence in the afterlife.
Coffin: an eternal dwelling place for the mummified remains of ancient Egyptian royalty and society’s elites, the coffin evolved into a body-shaped form depicting the deceased’s painted head. A coffin was often placed in an elaborately carved stone sarcophagus to protect the corpse from scavenging animals and tomb robbers.
Scarab: The ancient Egyptians revered this insect as the divine manifestation of the early morning sun, Khepri, and believed the god, in the form of the beetle, rolled the disk of the rising sun over the eastern horizon at daybreak.
Death mask: helping to preserve the body after death, masks were made by ancient Egyptians in the likeness of the deceased. The best known death mask is that of the 18th dynasty pharaoh Tutankhamun. A spectacular creation, it was made of gold inlaid with coloured glass and semi-precious stones including lapis lazuli.
This remarkable release is housed in a pyramid shaped display case, the top of which opens to reveal the coin. The surface of the pyramid is decorated with hieroglyphics and features a coloured winged scarab beetle design.
With a limited mintage of only 2,500, the coin is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
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