The East India Company continues its Treasures of India bullion series with the Peacock

Increasingly prolific in the bullion coin market, the East India Company brings its own more formal style with it. This is the second coin in a series called ‘Treasures of India. The debut release came last July and featured the Royal Bengal Tiger. This time it’s the turn of the Peacock, another icon of the Indian subcontinent.

The design draws much from the first one, indicating a series look that’s here to stay. A wide border holds all the inscriptions, and the Peacock sits on a background field covered with a geometric pattern exhibiting shades of the Medieval period, perhaps. It’s an unusual choice of perspective to depict the bird, but arguably a sensible one given the busy background would interfere with fine feather detail. An EIC privy sits just below the Veronica Mackinnon penned bird. The obverse has a similar border and background field pattern, but has the newer Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II in its centre. Issued for St Helena, a British Overseas Territory, the effigy is a requirement. The frosted finish is also present here.

Two formats make up the range, both an ounce in weight. A 0.999 silver coin is the main attraction, especially with its microscopic 3,000 mintage. A 0.9999 gold variant is capped at just 100 units. Suffice to say, this is one of the rarer bullion coins on the market today. As before, this is an APMEXclusive, and we wouldn’t expect many, or indeed any other dealer to sell these given the size of APMEX and the size of the mintage. Available from today, the series will return next year with another natural treasure from India.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

Respected in religious scriptures and protected by Parliament, the Peacock is considered sacred in India, occupying a special position in Indian culture. This majestic animal is a symbol of prosperity, compassion, soul, and peace thought to convey good luck and eternal love. Its feathers represent ‘a thousand eyes’ and are thought to bring harmony, serenity, peace of mind and good fortune.

Beautifully struck in 24ct gold and 1oz fine silver, this stunning Peacock coin captures the beauty and mystique of India’s National Bird which features on many religious buildings and artefacts, including Shah Jahan’s magnificent Peacock Throne.

CULTURAL SYMBOLISM

Buddhism: To the Buddhist, peacocks symbolise wisdom.

Native Americans: believe that the peacock is a symbol of wholeness, beauty, and dignity.

Hindu: To the Hindu, the peacock is associated with the deity, Lakshmi, that symbolises patience, kindness, compassion, and good luck.

Christianity: Early Christians adopted the peacock as a symbol of immortality based on an ancient Greek legend that suggested that the flesh of a peacock did not decay. The peacock is also associated with the resurrection of Christ because each year it sheds its old feathers and grows new ones to take their place. The eye pattern shown on the tail feathers have been interpreted as the all-seeing eye of God.

Japanese Culture: To the Japanese the peacock is associated with Kwan-yin, the Goddess of Mercy. The peacock symbolizes love, or

more precisely it is an emblem of love, symbolising good will, nurturing, and kindness.

White Peacock Symbolism: The breath-taking beauty of the white peacock is very rare, and therefore is seen as a sign of good luck. In Christianity, the white peacock is thought to represent Jesus Christ and stands for resurrection, renewal, and immortality.