Composed of 24 passages, and written by the Greek poet Homer over 28 centuries ago, the Odyssey is an epic poem. It tells the story of the return home from the Trojan War of the Greek hero Odysseus. After a decade away fighting, it takes an additional ten years to return to his kingdom on the island of Ithaca, ruled in his absence by his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Odysseus was a hero of the Trojan War, known for his intelligence and cunning, including the idea for the Trojan Horse that ended the war.

Most coins featuring the old Greek heroes almost invariably focus on the warrior aspects, depicting battles, or personal combat. T & S Coin’s new release eschews that for a depiction that shows us the heroes strategic genius. Odysseus is shown at a table upon which a map is laid out. He plans the final fall of Troy, with a model of the infamous wooden horse, and his finger marking the circular route taken by the Greek fleet as part of the final assault. In the background is Troy, surrounded by the Greek encampments. His armour and cloak are gilded and coloured, contrasting nicely with the antique finish. It’s fine composition that marks a change from the usual scene of hacking and slashing.

As is usual for T & S Coin, the obverse is their own custom design that’s only modified for the title at the top, and sometimes the national emblem in the centre depending for whom the coin is issued. In this case, the Public Seal of Niue occupies the space. It’s always been a very fine design indeed, a real step up from the more common effigy/emblem only. The coin comes boxed with a COA. A nice addition to the genre, and with the Odyssey a huge box-office hit, we expect the subject to be popular.