Germania is back and alongside Britannia for the first Allegories silver bullion release

MINTS DESCRIPTION

In the Western world, the first feminine personifications of nations were usually majestic manifestations of values ​​considered to characterize the communities of given countries or regions. Many of these visualizations came from the image of Athena and took the Latin names of the ancient Roman provinces, such as Germania, Polonia, Britania and Italia. But why are the names of both countries and their personifications feminine? For millennia, women have been seen as a weaker sex, that should show submission to men. Why national impersonations are women then? There is no unambiguous answer to these questions. It is assumed, however, that people have always identified their homeland with their mother – the first source of food, care and love. Probably that is why terms such as “mother Earth” or “homeland” have found a permanent place both in mass consciousness and in the commonly used language. And although in the overwhelming majority it is still mainly men who are the world leaders, people in times of trial, such as wars or disasters, symbolically turn to the “mother of the nation” for protection and favor.

Treating the country as a metaphor of home and family, nations have always identified their countries with maternal protection, which provided them with a sense of security and community. Wishing to pay a tribute to them, we created a series of coins called “The Allegories”, with which we want to celebrate the extraordinary figures of “mothers of nations”, that for centuries have encouraged people in the hardest moments of human history. Thus, for the first time in the history of numismatics, on the following coins of the “The Allegories” series, Germania “will meet” with legendary national personifications in symbolic circumstances.

REVERSE: The symbolism included in this design represents the moral principles and noble values, which are relevant till today. A wreath of oak leaves symbolizes loyalty, stability and national unity. In the past, only people who wielded enormous power – spirit, muscle or magic, could wear it.

The shield is a defensive part of the weaponry used by horse and foot formations from the Bronze Age through antiquity to the Middle Ages. It has accompanied the images of the greatest warriors as it is an attribute of gods and heroes, symbol of truth, faithfulness and trust.

The crown in heraldry is a symbol of authority and nobility or chivalry as well. The above mentioned symbols correspond directly to values represented by Germania and Britannia. Please take into consideration that following coat of arms is a figment of imagination and it does not represent any noble family or kingdom.

Because Germania is a historical land and has never been an official country, we decided to create our own interpretation of its coat of arms. The crowned shield has been divided into four parts, from which each has a traditional meaning, precisely defined by heraldry. In the top left corner of the crest there is the Germania Mint’s Bicephalous eagle – a Roman mythology symbol associated with Janus, the god of all origins, guardian of doors, gates, passages and bridges, the patron of contracts and alliances. Heads facing the opposite symbolize the past and the future.

Right upper corner is decorated with a check pattern that refers to wisdom and prudence – every good sovereign should be distinguished by these character traits. On the left bottom corner of the shield there are three flowers on a gold ribbon. They hide three values determining a strong and independent nation – unity, integrity and freedom. On the right bottom corner of the crest a wild boar appears – a very popular and respectful animal in Roman Empire, which is a symbol of mightiness and power. At least three famous Roman legions are known to have had a boar as their emblem – Legio I Italica, Legio X Fretensis and Legio XX Valeria Victrix.

OBVERSE: The first coin from the Allegories features a personifications of two historical lands: Germania and Britannia. On earlier coins Germania has preserved a laurel wreath with a shield. This time her sword rests at peace in a scabbard attached to her waist and she reaches out her hand in a sensitive gesture to Britannia. So far Lady Britannia was presented as a beautiful and thoughtful woman. On the new coin she is surrounded by her characteristic attributes – a Roman helmet with a plume, a shield and a trident, which refers to the former maritime power of her land. We can search for symbolsism of these two Amazons in the historical context as well as in the current events…