First described in Homer’s epic tale of the Trojan War, The Iliad, the Shield of Achilles was used by the Greek hero in his fight with Hector. It’s the first known example of ekphrasis in the poetry of the Ancient Greeks, a detailed narrative description of a work of art, meant to describe an object in detail for the reader to envisage.

In The Iliad, Patroclus borrows Achilles armour, but is killed in battle by Hector, and the armour was taken. Achilles vows revenge and asks his nymph mother, Thetis, to ask the blacksmith god Hephaestus, to forge replacements for her son, and they included a heavily decorated shield. Achilles uses it in his battle with Hector where he emerges victorious.

The two-ounce coin is a concave strike, and the reverse face features a depiction of the shield based on the description that Homer wrote about in his epic The Iliad. While the various interpretations vary in detail, in general, the centre is set aside for the major planets and constellations, while the outer can be seen as a microcosm of Ancient Greek life, with scenes of agriculture, politics, and daily life. The small outermost border represents the oceans. The obverse has a similar outer border, but this time looks more like the winds. The hand straps of the shield are also present, giving the whole design the appearance of functionality.

It’s a good looking coin, especially if gilding is your finish of choice. It’s certainly a look you can see a Greek hero wielding in a epic battle. The centre of the coin reverse is especially noteworthy, with the horses rearing well proud of the coin face. Overall then, a fine imagining of one of the ancient worlds most iconic pieces of art. Available to pre-order now, it will come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the mintage is capped at 500 pieces.