The Pagoda of Many Treasures, the Dabotap, is showcased on a new three ounce smartminted silver coin

Situated in Gyeongju, South Korea, at the temple of Bulguksa, is the Dabo Pagoda. Built during the United Silla period in 751, the 10 metre tall Dabotap and the temple constitute one of the most famous locations in Korea. This stone structure is quite unique in Buddhist countries, built in a more ornate style. and is known as National Treasure 20.

It’s described by the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration, “The pagoda has four stairways flanking the four sides of the pagoda’s
base. Four square corner pillar set up on the cover stone for the base
have the crossing stone pedestal supporting the stone roof. On top of
the stairway, a stone lion sits on its hunch., It is believed that there
were four lions in four directions. There is a stone square railing on
the roof. Inside the railing, the body of the pagoda is constructed, and
above the body there is an octagonal stone railing. Again inside the
octagonal stone railing, eight bamboo-shaped stone pillar support the
octagonal-shaped lotus stone carved with sixteen lotus petals. Above the
stone lotus, eight stone pillars support the octagonal stone roof with
the finial.”

Enter Coins Today with their latest. Most noted for the bullion releases in conjunction with KOMSCO, this latest coin is firmly in numismatic territory and uses the CIT/BHM proprietary smartminting technology to bring the Dabotap and the Bulguska Temple to life. Struck in three ounces of 0.999 silver and with a mintage of just 333 pieces, it’s a far more ambitious piece.

The reverse face shows us the Dabotap in the foreground, with its sister pagoda, the Seokgatap Pagoda, behind it. The latter is built in a more typical style and you can clearly see the fundamental difference between it and the highly distinctive Dabotap. Behind the pair are some of the main structures that make up the Bulguksa Temple. It’s a neat and precise depiction, very much in the smartminted style.

The obverse features a wider view of the temple complex, including the two sibling pagodas. It’s interesting to see the Dabotap placed in context, something missing from so many coins like this. It’s issued for Palau, and that nautically-themed national emblem is placed in its own seperate circular area where it doesn’t infringe too much on the wider design.

It’s been great to see the increase in Korean themed coins over the last few years, even though most have been restricted to the bullion market, but this is a nice step in a wider numismatic look at this ancient countries cultural history. While the Dabotap is no stranger to coins, it’s been the design on the 10 Won coin since 1966 and remains on it to this day, this is clearly something that will find an eager audience inside Korea, and further abroad. Available to order shortly.