Cook Islands impressive ‘Mythological Weapons’ series wraps up with a fifth release, Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince

Numiscollect are wrapping up their striking ‘Mythological Weapons’ antiqued, two-ounce silver coin series with a fifth and final release. The series oicks out some of the legendary weapons and artifcats used by the gods and heroes in the various ancient myths from around the world. The series started in 2017 with Mjolnir – Thor’s Hammer, and followed that with three Greek themed coins. In a complete change from that, the series jumps to China with a quite incredible figure.

Nezha, of which there is more further down, doesn’t have a single weapon of choice, but rather has chosen to fill his six hands with a whole plethora of them. Swords, a spear, ‘wind fire wheels’ and more, mark Nezha out as a bit of a character, with a backstory quite unlike most other deities. But how has Numiscollect managed to transfer the legend to metal?

Very well, to be honest. This series has always been packed with smartminted high-relief detail, and that’s again the case here. The central figure of Nezha is depicted in flight and armed to the teeth. It does make you want to read more about him, and lovers of the old ‘Monkey’ TV series will have a twinge of remembrance. It’s a lovely piece, beautifully balanced across the face, and with inscriptions kept to a minimum, as it should be.

The mintage of Nezha is set at 999 pieces and it should be available to pre-order right now. It will come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. Another fine addition to a neat series,,,. We’ve added this one to our comprehensive guide to Numiscollects various ancient mythology coin series and you can read it HERE.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

Nezha (哪吒) was born in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) as an infant after a 3.5 year pregnancy of his mother. He could speak and walk immediately. Several years later the people from his town asked the Dragon King for rain but the king refused the food and demanded girls and boys to eat. One of Nezha’s friends was capture but Nezha fought back and won.

The Dragon King threatened to flood their town and reported Nezha to the Jade Emperor. To safe his family Nezha killed himself. He appeared in his mother’s dream telling her to build a temple which she did. When his father found out he burned the temple, but this could not stop Nezha. His teacher constructed a new body from lotus flowers for his soul. After Nezha’s reincarnation he fought many battles.

Today Nezha is a protection deity in Chinese Taoist religion.

Nezha is often depicted as a youth, instead of an adult. He is often shown flying in the sky riding on the Wind Fire Wheels (風火輪), has the Universe Ring (乾坤圈) around his body (sometimes in his left hand), the Red Armillary Sash (浑天绫) around his shoulders and a Fire-tipped Spear (火尖槍) in his right hand. Sometimes, he is shown in his “three heads and six arms” form (三頭六臂). He has the ability to spit rainbows in some legends.