Amenhotep and Nefertiti, the love story that scandalised an ancient empire, star on a new coin from T&S

Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, was one of the most polarising Pharaohs in the history of the Ancient Egyptian empire. Long the place where dozens of gods were worshipped, Akhenaten turned all that on its head, choosing to push the worship of the sun disc, Aten, and reducing the others to minor players in the pantheon.

He moved the capital of the empire from Thebes to a new one built at Amarna. Here he ruled with his wife, Nefertiti, famed for the exquisite bust currently kept in Berlin, until his death in 1334 BCE. Nefertiti herself likely reigned alone for a couple of years after the death of Akhenaten. It’s also likely that the famous Tutankhamun, whose prior name was Tutankhaten, was a son of Akhenaten,

Both Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV), and Nefertiti, were clearly a close couple, confident enough to steer the whole Egyptian empire, already many centuries old, in a new direction, changing that most fundamental of things, religion, They’re depicted on T&S Coin’s latest issue in a touching embrace, resplendent in full headgear and other adornments, all picked out with gilding. The setting looks like a tent, or temple room, looking out over the Giza plateau. While the figures are a little too modern, perhaps, the scene is a nice change from the usual, and beautifully realised in silver.

The obverse continues the producer’s use of a common obverse across all their issues, and it remains an attractive design. This coin is issued for Cameroon, so that nation’s coat-of-arms sits in the central area, rather than the Public Seal of Niue on most others. The coin will come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, of course, and the mintage is set at the typical 500 pieces. Another fine release in what is building into a fine portfolio in short order. Available to order now.