The Greek god of the Sun, Helios, joins Numiscollect’s superb Ancient Gods series of smartminted silver coins

Helios was the Ancient Greek personification of the sun, and a deity that grew in prominence as Greek and Roman cultures began to merge in late antiquity. Like all the old gods, he also had quite a few side gigs in his repertoire. In this case, Helios was also the god of sight, guardian of oaths, and the patron god of Rhodes, who displayed their worship of him by building the Colossus of Rhodes, a statue of epic proportions, and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

While he wasn’t a major deity, he was one of the oldest, perhaps a second-generation Titan, and a relatively shadowy figure, who other gods were wary of. He was generally depicted on a chariot pulled by four horses, and wearing a bright aureole of the sun, which he rode across the sky every day, bringing light while doing so, and travelling back to the start point every night. This myth is closely related to that of the Egyptian sun-god, Ra.

This is the sixth coin in a series that has garnered much praise in previous years. Ancient Gods launched in 2017 with an outstanding Quetzalcoatl design, a good sign the series wasn’t just focused on the usual Greeks and Romans. Subsequent issues have included the Indian deity Shiva, the Egyptian god Ra, and even the Japanese goddess, Amaterasu. These are three ounce silver coins, antique-finished, smartminted, and devoid of superfluous gimmickry. They have a crisp, well-defined level of high-relief, and a style leaning more toward realism, rather than the more fantastical.

There’s no questioning that Helios is up to the task of standing alongside the previous coins. It’s another superb entrant into a series full of them. The figure exudes power, the horses purpose, and the chariot and aureole are beautifully done. There isn’t a bit of the reverse face that isn’t packed with impressive detail. We love this one. The obverse is a little dull in comparison, but the reverse is the star here.

The coin is presented in a box, with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the mintage is a relatively small 333 pieces. All previous issues have sold out, and we can’t see this one not joining them soon. Available to order now. Check out the rest of this range, and Numiscollect’s similar ones, in our full Coin Series Profile.