Exclusive first look! – Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice, debuts a new coin series showcasing female deities of the ancient world

The Greek Goddess of Justice, Themis, (her name meaning ‘divine law’), was a Titan, one of the twelve children of Gaia and Uranus. She was the second wife of Zeus, and believed to be the personification of ‘justice, divine order, fairness, law, and custom’. As with many Greek deities, Themis transitioned to later cultures, such as Ancient Rome, where she was known as Iustitia, and it could be argued that Themis herself, was a later version of the Egyptian goddess Maat, or even Isis.

The ancient pantheons are complex and intertwined, often with so many variables that the coin artist has to pick and choose which interpretation to base their design on. This new coin from Numiartis/Intercoins-Berlin and Coins Outlet is a fine case in point. Themis is depicted as a classic beauty, very much in the modern style. She is shown holding a set of gilded scales, something common in ancient times, but she’s also seen wearing a blindfold, something that wasn’t added to the mythos until the sixteenth century.

The scales are there to weigh justice impartially, with only the weight of the evidence placed upon them able to tip the balance between innocence and guilt. The blindfold was originally a satirical addition, taking a dig at the injustice in society carried out right under the nose of justice, but that interpretation has changed. It now represents the impartiality of justice, the blindfold signifying that only the evidence, and not the status of the parties involved, has weight in justice.

However you want to interpret the iconography, this is a very pretty coin, with an elegant, flowing style. Both the gilding, and the subtle colours, work well with the antique finish. A slim border carries the series, and the specific issue titles, leaving the whole centre section free of encroachments.

The obverse of this Niue-issued coin is also very well done. The middle is filled with the almost ubiquitous effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, this time by Ian Rank Broadley, but the border is 80% filled with a pattern of what looks like flowing hair – a nod to the female subjects of the series, perhaps. It’s always nice to see a bit of effort expended on a face that most Niue issues just don’t get.

As you’d expect, this two-ounce 0.999 silver coin will come boxed, with a Certificate of Authenticity and has a mintage capped at 500 pieces. We like this one. The style marks a subtle move away from the look that has dominated this type of coin over the last few years, and we look forward to seeing how this series expands in the future. We understand it will be a little less rigid in format, which is intriguing. Available to order now.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $5 NZD (Niue)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 62.2 grams
DIMENSIONS 45.0 mm
FINISH Antique
MODIFICATIONS High-relief, Gilding, Colour
MINTAGE 500
BOX / C.O.A. Yes / Yes