World exclusive! The Carpathian Mint launches, with a fine Jules Verne inspired, “Around the World in 80 Days” silver coin

Born of a collaboration between Silver Coins Europe, and Pela Coins, the Carpathian Mint launches today, with its first new coin release. There’s certainly a great heritage between these two producers. Pela are responsible for many fine designs, like the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and some superb space-themed coins, amongst others, and while Silver Coins Europe are newer to the producer club, their Lucifer and Arthur Pendragon releases were first class. Carpathian Mint will handle all subsequent issues in both producers catalogues, so it shouldn’t take long to build up a great body of work.

Their first official release is a three-ounce silver coin in the antique-finished, high-relief genre, one so beloved by the ancient mythology crowd. However, we’re especially pleased to see this one hasn’t followed that well-worn path, and the chosen subject is an exceptional one. Jules Verne’s seminal classic ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ is more popular today than it was on publication in 1872, one and a half centuries ago. Telling the story of Phileas Fogg’s attempt to win a wager placed in London’s Reform Club, he undertakes to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, doing so with minutes to spare.

The book is packed with adventures, explaining its enduring popularity. Accompanied by Passepartout, who is being pursued by Scotland Yard, he makes the journey with just hours to spare. Packing all that happens in the book is no mean feat, but the coin designer has done a splendid job. The reverse face depicts the pair riding atop an elephant in India, which is selectively coloured to highlight the magnificent regalia of the animal. No part of this face isn’t packed with high-relief detail, and little elements abide everywhere. The obverse is outstanding. The many modes of transport used by Fogg on his journey are depicted here, merged together perfectly into a single scene. The Elizabeth Tower’s clock face marks the finishing time, and the seal of Niue, rather than the effigy of QEII, is neatly placed and kept to a minimal size. Again, it’s absolutely packed with little touches.

What a great way to kick off a new venture than with a literary classic about a great new venture! The coin is obviously a labour of love for the designer, and we can’t wait to see the finished article. Just 500 pieces will be minted, and it comes boxed with an info-packed Certificate of Authenticity.

JULES VERNE

Jules Gabriel Verne (8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the Voyages extraordinaires, a series of bestselling adventure novels including Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1872). His novels, always well documented, are generally set in the second half of the 19th century, taking into account the technological advances of the time.

In addition to his novels, he wrote numerous plays, short stories, autobiographical accounts, poetry, songs and scientific, artistic and literary studies. His work has been adapted for film and television since the beginning of cinema, as well as for comic books, theatre, opera, music and video games.

Verne is considered to be an important author in France and most of Europe, where he has had a wide influence on the literary avant-garde and on surrealism. His reputation was markedly different in the Anglosphere, where he had often been labelled a writer of genre fiction or children’s books, largely because of the highly abridged and altered translations in which his novels have often been printed. On 24 March 1905, while ill with chronic diabetes and complications from a stroke which paralysed his right side, Verne died at his home in Amiens. (Source: Wikipedia)

THE ITINERARY OF PHILEAS FOGG
LONDON TO SUEZ, EGYPT
 Train to Brindisi, Italy, followed by the steamer ‘Mongolia’ to Egypt 7 DAYS
SUEZ TO BOMBAY, INDIA
 The steamer ‘Mongolia’ across the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean
 13 DAYS
BOMBAY TO CALCUTTA, INDIA
 Train across India
 3 DAYS
CALCUTTA TO HONG KONG
 The steamer ‘Rangoon’ across the South China Sea
 13 DAYS
HONG KONG TO YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
 The steamer ‘Carnatic’ across the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Pacific
 6 DAYS
YOKOHAMA TO SAN FRANCISCO, USA
 The steamer ‘The General Grant’ across the Pacific Ocean
 22 DAYS
SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK, USA
 Train across the United States
 7 DAYS
NEW YORK TO LONDON
 The steamer ‘The China’ across the Atlantic Ocean to Liverpool, then train to London
 9 DAYS
SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $5 NZD (Niue)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 93.3 grams
DIMENSIONS 60.0 mm
FINISH Antique
MODIFICATIONS Ultra high-relief, UV Printing
MINTAGE 500
BOX / C.O.A. Yes / Yes

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