Created in the early 12th century to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, the Knights Templar were a Catholic military order that rose to prominence through their military exploits, and their banking system. They were founded after the First Crusade by a group led by Hugh de Payens, and were feared by Islamic armies for their martial prowess, often taking the role of shock troops.

However, their banking exploits brought them great power and influence, and with it, the attention of European monarchs, many of whom were hugely indebted to them. In 1307, Philip IV of France had many Templars arrested and tortured. Five years later, Pope Clement V disbanded the order, and its last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake. They passed into legend.

The coin is the first in a new series called Secret Societies, and as the name suggests, will focus on organisations that either live in the shadows, or hide a large part of what they’re up to. The obverse is full of secretive iconography, set over a wood texture, and the lack of a specifically Knights Templar look would suggest this will be a common one to the series moving forward.

The reverse face is the main attraction, of course, and it follows a style that Mint XXI have employed in a few of their other flagship series. A Templar, fully armoured and kneeling in prayer, is the main foreground attraction, and in the background are a pair of Knights mounted on horseback. To the bottom left are a pair of gold coins, symbolising the order’s link with finance, something that would eventually bring about their downfall. Their motto, is inscribed in the border, and means “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name give glory”. Overall, it’s a fine encapsulation of a giant of history, and a fantastic coin.

One of my favourite series in production today, The Legacy of the Greatest Empires does exactly what that title suggests, and looks at various empires throughout history, while at their peak. We’ve already had the Roman, Mongol, Ottoman, and French efforts, and now we can add the Persians, the people that struck fear into the Greeks, and who even held out against the Romans during their later Parthian dynasty. Here, however, the focus is on the first Achaemenid Dynasty, founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE.

The empire was huge, spanning the region from the west of India, through Iran, and into Egypt. It was a remarkably tolerant one when it came to religion, choosing to focus on administration by unification, aided by effective infrastructure, something the later Roman Republic understood. It did like to expand its territory, and fought the Greeks on several occasions. Ironically, it was the Greek king, Alexander the Great, that ended the Persian Empire in 330 BCE, although it would rise again in the second century BCE as Parthia.

The coin is just fantastic. A Persian ruler, maybe Cyrus, takes pride of place, flanked by his elite warriors, The Immortals. There are many elements of Persian culture in the design, including the Cyrus Cylinder (first codified human rights declaration), a Zoroastrian fire altar, the famous winged lion or Shirdal, and the gates of Babylon. A coloured map of the empire resides in the background, a signature of the series, and a crest sits at the top, also coloured. Throw in that intricate common obverse, and you have yet another fine issue in this outstanding series. Still waiting for the British Empire though…

This one is obviously quite different to the other three coins you can see here, but the Nature Spirits series remains one of the most beautiful put out by Mint XXI. Here, the focus is on the mystical female beings that personify various aspects of the natural world. We’ve already seen the aquatic Mermaid, and the Dryad of the forests, and for this third outing we’re in the gardens and meadows, specifically the flora that inhabits it.

The designs in this series are built around a female face, unwaveringly beautiful, heavily themed around a tight colour palette, and with hair formed from their environment. Sitting in that hair is a full body representation of the spirit. Here, we’re in the reds, with a stunning redhead, her hair generously decorated with pink roses and a light bouquet of flowers. A small fairy lays sleeping in the biggest rose, cuddling an inset rose agate gem.

I’ve already used the word beautiful twice, but there’s no better way to describe this series. They’re simple in concept, and elegant in execution, right down to the common obverse. If you have Mermaid and Dryad, you’re going to want Flower Fairy.

Erik Haraldsson, known as Erik Bloodaxe (died c. 954), was a 10th-century Norse ruler, and the son of Harald Fairhair, considered the first King of Norway. Erik’s early life involved Viking expeditions. He briefly held the kingship of Norway, approximately from 930 to 934 CE. His reign was characterized by conflict with his half-brothers, several of whom he reportedly killed to consolidate his power. This contributed to his nickname, “Bloodaxe,” though its precise origin remains debated by historians.

Following his expulsion from Norway by his brother Hákon the Good, Erik established himself in Britain. He ruled as King of Northumbria, based in York (Jórvík), on two separate occasions: from approximately 947 to 948 CE, and again from 952 to 954 CE. His presence in Northumbria is corroborated by contemporary Anglo-Saxon chronicles and coinage bearing his name. Erik Bloodaxe was ultimately killed in 954 CE, likely at Stainmore, which led to Northumbria’s final integration into the English kingdom.

The tenth in the twelve-issue series continues the sky-high standard set by its predecessors. The antiqued finish, set off with red highlights, has worked particularly well for this series, and the bloody axe seems especially fitting here. Lots of detail, a fine layered layout, and that excellent common obverse make it obvious why this series is so popular, selling out every issue.