Mint XXI pays tribute to the Japanese celestial sun goddess, Amaterasu, with an elegant new coin
The next coin we’re looking at from Mint XXI’s World Money Fair release run is probably our favourite. The second in a series called ‘Divine Faces of the Sun’ it showcases the japanese Shinto goddess of the sun, Amaterasu. This is only the second time we’ve seen this deity on a coin, the first from Numiscollect coming just a couple of months ago, but we’re amazed why there aren’t more given the plethora of Euro-centric deities that have repeatedly shown up on collectible coins.
While Numiscollect chose to depict Amaterasu as a powerful cultural icon, oozing strength and Japanese style, Mint XXI have chosen to focus on her effexts on the world of nature, for she is also the goddess that gives life. Filled to the edge with gorgeous detail, the deity is depicted at one with nature, her mastery of the sun spreading life throughout the world. The gilding and amber for the sun works absolutely perfectly. The lack of intrusive inscriptions is also a huge plus, what is there minimal and well placed.
The obverse is a simple affair, just a typical Niue effigy of Queen Elizabeth II enhanced with a small patterned border. It’s three ounces in weight and antique finished, coming in a wooden box with a C.O.A., all in a themed shipper. Just 500 of these 55 mm diameter coins will be struck.
A simply gorgeous release and proof positive that the ancient cultures of countries like Japan, Korea, India and more, are filled with tales deserving of numismatic showcasing. Mint XXI have easily proven themselves as top tier, alongside others like CIT, Numiscollect, Mint of Poland, Art Mint and MDM, amongst others. That they’ve done so in such a short time, and so definitively, is a testament to the passion at the company. Check out some of their other releases and the first in the series, Amun-Ra. A great time to be a coin collector.
SPECIFICATION | |
DENOMINATION | $5 NZD (Niue) |
COMPOSITION | 0.999 silver |
WEIGHT | 93.3 grams |
DIMENSIONS | 55.0 mm |
FINISH | Antique |
MODIFICATIONS | High-relief, Gilding, Amber insert |
MINTAGE | 500 |
BOX / C.O.A. | Yes (wood) / Yes |
In my opinion, Mint XXI’s version of Amaterasu far out does the Numiscollect’s version. This is one I will add to my collection.
Each will fit perfectly into their respective series, I think. Both are beautiful and its great to see this standard becoming much more common than before.
Mint XXI is hitting home runs every time. Who are these wildly creative folks & where are they located? Stunning releases!
https://agaunews.com/mint21-week-ancient-egyptian-god-of-the-sun-and-the-air-exudes-power-on-new-high-relief-coin/ – here is the first coin in the series) Amaterasu – is the second one)
Absolutely right of course. Sorry, swamped with new releases at the moment and sick, so the brain isn’t firing on all cylinders.
Hi! I’m a representative of the company XXI Century Mint. Answering your question, our creative team is located in Lviv, Ukraine, and production takes place near Warsaw, Poland. Thank you for the positive feedback about the Amaterasu coin. Our team strives to produce every coin without exception beautiful to make your collecting process even more enjoyable!
To follow up on our discussion, we wanted to remind collectors that Amaterasu is the second coin in the series “Divine faces of the sun”. And the first one was dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun Ra, about which Mik Woodgate wrote a wonderful article: https://agaunews.com/mint21-week-ancient-egyptian-god-of-the-sun-and-the-air-exudes-power-on-new-high-relief-coin/
Thanks Yaryna. Article amended.
Yaryna, Thank you for your response. One correction-my positive feedback was not limited to Amaterasu, but to Mint XXI’s entire body of work, I loved the unique style of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse & every one the Mint has issued since then. Stunning, inventive, unique, beautiful, creative coins!
Thank you, Harry! It’s a pleasure to hear that you like our coinage art!