The killing of Abel by his brother Cain is the latest Biblical coin from Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s latest ‘Biblical Series’ coin, the fifth of six for 2017 and the seventeenth overall, is released today and available from APMEX as usual. An ambitious series based on the work of acclaimed nineteenth-century woodcut artist, Paul Gustave Dore, each two-ounce fine silver coin depicts one of the scores of illustrations undertaken by the French artist in the 1860’s.
There’s a huge range of some quite superb pieces of art to choose from, so this one is a little disappointing. It’s a faithful rendition, but there have been better examples in the series. Depicting the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, it’s a good choice from the story point of view, being widely known, it’s just not a particularly dynamic or detailed piece for me. There will be no doubting the implementation, however. Scottsdale have done an impressive job with this series and we’ve no doubt this will be up there with the best of them.
As before, the coin is packaged in a lightweight book-style case, although a leather-look six-coin collectors binder is available for those collecting a complete annual run. The coin sells for $179.99, but for 72 hours APMEX is knocking $10 off. We have a Coin Series Profile of the series where all the coins are detailed and you can read more about one of the most ambitious series out there at the moment. Just one more coin to come in 2017.
2017 THE DEATH OF ABEL SILVER COIN
DESCRIPTION
Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve in the biblical Book of Genesis. Cain, the firstborn, tilled the soil, and his brother Abel was a shepherd. The brothers made sacrifices to God, each of his own produce, but God favoured Abel’s sacrifice instead of Cain’s. Cain murdered Abel. God punished Cain to a life of wandering but set a mark on him so that no man would kill him.
Cain then dwelt in the land of Nod, where he built a city and fathered the line of descendants beginning with Enoch. The narrative never explicitly states Cain’s motive (though it does describe him as being wrathful, and his motive is traditionally assumed to be envy), nor God’s reason for rejecting Cain’s sacrifice, nor details on the identity of Cain’s wife. Some traditional interpretations consider Cain to be the originator of evil, violence, or greed. According to Genesis, Cain was the first human born and Abel was the first to die.
REVERSE: Features a depiction of the illustration by Gustave Doré of Cain after he slew his brother, Abel.
OBVERSE: Features the Raphael Maklouf likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by the weight, purity and face value.
Included certificate of authenticity lists Genesis 4:1-11 (NLT) which states: The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain as his gift. This made Cain very angry. “Why are you so angry”, the Lord asked Cain. “You will be accepted in you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master”. One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
SPECIFICATION
| NAME | 2017 BIBLICAL SERIES |
| DENOMINATION | $2 New Zealand |
| COMPOSITION | 0.999 silver |
| WEIGHT | 62.2 grams |
| DIAMETER | 39.0 mm |
| FINISH | Antique |
| MODIFICATIONS | High relief |
| MINTAGE | 1,499 |
| BOX / COA | Yes / Yes |
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