Mint XXI launches a new series, ‘Nature Spirits’, with a beautiful high-relief Mermaid silver coin

Mint XXI have today kicked off their Spring Launch with the debut of five new coins, four of which are additions to an ongoing series, including their impressive Celestial Beauty range, inspired by Renaissance art. We’ll have a look at those later this week, as we’re starting off with the debut of an all-new series, one called Nature Spirits, focusing on the mythological spirits that permeate so many of our older cultures.

The first in this range of two-ounce silver coins heads to perhaps the richest source of myths and legends – the sea. Mermaids are creatures of the sea, having the torso and head of a human female, but instead of legs, they have the tail of a fish. They’re a common myth across many continents, sometimes associated with naval tragedy, like shipwrecks, and sometimes with a love for humans. Depictions in art and folklore are almost countless.

The coin is straight-up beautiful, in my opinion, tapping into an art style similar to that employed on their Dragonology, and Femina Bellator series, both of which are top-tier. The basic layout is just about perfect, with the profile face seemingly appearing from the aperture of an ammonite shell. A full-body mermaid is seen draped over the same shell, with the water lapping against her feet, foot, flipper. The colouration, utilising a pearlescent effect, is gorgeous, and there’s a suitably appropriate pearl-like insert.

The obverse is centred around a colourful vortex that appears created by five hands, each representing one of the four elements, plus spirit. This will be common to the series, and a neat way to tie all the disparate myths together into a coherent whole. The antique finish suits it all so well, of course. The coin comes in a wooden box, with a themed shipper, and a COA, and is available now. A fine issue.