Moneda Nueva debut their third silver kilo art-architectural coin, the Mayan city of Uxmal

For the third time in four years, Spanish producer Moneda Nueva is releasing a coin in its kilogram weighted silver architectural series. Following the superb Taj Mahal coin in 2014 and last years equally fine Angkor Wat coin, the producer is launching Uxmal for 2017. The format is one familiar to collectors of modern numismatics; antique-finish, high-relief, inset mineral, but the weight is only matched by recent variants of Coin Invest Trust’s seminal Tiffany Art series.

Uxmal is a fascinating subject for a coin and from a civilisation quite under-represented in the field. The iconography and architecture of Mesoamerica is certainly different from the more usual European and Middle-Eastern civilisations that predominate commemorative coins of late. The choice for the added area that comes with a coin sixteen times the usual size with this subject, is an inspired one.

The reverse design depicts the largest building in the old Mayan city of Uxmal, called the Pyramid of the Magician. It’s a highly unusual 38 m tall pyramid that’s oval in plan, with rounded instead of flat sides. The high-relief strike has made showing it much easier. A look at the western face with its large staircase dominates the reverse, with a window near the bottom inset with a piece of obsidian. Only the inscription ‘UXMAL’ is on this side, showing admirable restraint.

The obverse takes a closer look at the reliefs and decoration that’s present on the pyramids western side, including a figure from the facade nicknamed Queen of Uxmal that is reproduced on the coin. The denomination, issuer and weight are inscribed here. Following from previous practice, this coin is issued for a different country than those that have come before. The Taj Mahal was issued for Fiji, Angkor Wat for the Republic of Congo, and this new coin for the Republic of Chad.

A gorgeous coin with a mintage of just 100 coins worldwide, these compete easily with the best in a genre that already exhibits some of the very highest levels of design and quality in modern commemorative coins. The coin comes with a certificate of authenticity and in a fine quality wooden box as befitting a coin that sells for over €3,000. Available to pre-order now, site sponsors Pela-Coins, First Coin Company and Powercoin all have the coin up for preorder now with shipping commencing in May.

2017 UXMAL ANTIQUED SILVER COIN

Uxmal, in north-west Yucatán, Mexico, was an important Maya city which flourished between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. The city, following an extensive restoration programme, is the best preserved of all Maya sites, and it possesses some of the most outstanding examples of Terminal Classic architecture anywhere.

First settled in the 6th century CE, or even earlier, it was between 850 and 925 CE that Uxmal fully established itself as the capital of a collection of lesser cities in the eastern Puuc region. Along with other northern sites like Chichen Itza, Uxmal survived the collapse which affected most other Maya cities c. 900 CE. Indeed, the city embarked on a new round of monument building in the 9th and 10th centuries CE and became by far the largest Puuc site. Later, in the 13th and 14th centuries CE, Uxmal was a part of an alliance of Yucatan city-states led by Mayapan.

Its buildings are typical of the Puuc style, with smooth low walls that open on ornate friezes based on representations of typical Maya huts. These are represented by columns (representing the reeds used for the walls of the huts) and trapezoidal shapes (representing the thatched roofs). Entwined snakes and, in many cases two-headed snakes are used for masks of the rain god, Chaac; its big noses represent the rays of the storms. Feathered serpents with open fangs are shown leaving from the same human beings.

Along with the Pyramid of the Magician, notable buildings include the Nunnery Quadrangle, House of the Governor and the House of the Pigeons. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its significance.

2017 UXMAL COIN IN ITS BOX

The Adivino, also called the Pyramid of the Magician is a stepped, two-layer pyramid with two distinct profiles. Construction began in the 6th century CE and ended four centuries later. Unique in Mesoamerica, the pyramid is oval in outline and not rectilinear. It was common to build temple pyramids on top of older ones and that is the case here.

A steep staircase embellished with carved masks climbs the west side and reaches a doorway carved to represent the mouth of a terrible serpent monster. A less steep staircase climbs the eastern side and ends in a single-chamber structure. The western staircase of the pyramid is situated so that it faces the setting sun on the summer solstice.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 UXMAL
DENOMINATION 10,000 Francs CFA
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 1,000 grams
DIAMETER 100.00 mm
FINISH Antique
MODIFICATIONS Obsidian insert
MINTAGE 100
BOX / COA Yes / Yes