Description: In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!Long SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint! Fifth and final entry in this unbelievably popular series! The classic European Green Dragon terrorizes the medieval countryside on this Dragons of Legend pure silver dollar, in full color! Talisman Coins and the Perth Mint are excited to announce the fifth and final release in the exciting new Dragons of Legend Series, the Classic European Green Dragon! These legendary creatures have captivated mankind's imagination since prehistory, with the origins of the Dragon lost in the mists of time. Certainly, they were known to the ancients - Greeks, Romans, Jews and Chinese all had their versions, and of course it was a dragon the finally slew Beowulf, the hero of Germanic myth. The Dragons of Legend were designed by renowned fine artist and illustrator Howard David Johnson, in the realistic style for which he is famed the world over! Between the extremely popular dragon motif, beautiful design and mintage limit, heed our advice—get one (or more) of these colorful, one ounce, pure silver dollars while you can! The Classic European Green Dragon In European folklore, a dragon is a serpentine legendary creature with two pairs of lizard-type legs and bat-type wings growing from its back (a dragon-like creature with no front legs is known as a wyvern). In Western folklore, green dragons are usually portrayed as evil (with the exceptions mainly in Welsh folklore and modern fiction). This is in contrast to Asian dragons, who are traditionally depicted as more benevolent creatures. Modern stories depict dragons as being highly intelligent creatures that can talk. They are often associated with, and sometimes in control of, powerful magic. In the modern period, the European green dragon is typically depicted as a huge fire-breathing, scaly and horned lizard-like creature, with (leathery, bat-like) wings, four legs and a long muscular tail. It is sometimes shown with feathered wings, crests, fiery manes, ivory spikes running down its spine and various exotic colorations. Dragon's blood often has magical properties: for example in Wagner's opera Siegfried, it allows Siegfried to understand the language of the Forest Bird. The typical green dragon in Europe protects a cavern or castle filled with gold and treasure and is often associated with a great hero who tries to slay it. (Sometimes, however, the hero is not so large, such as Bilbo in Tolkien's The Hobbit.) Though a winged creature, the dragon is generally to be found in its underground lair, a cave that identifies it as an ancient creature of earth. Possibly, the dragons of European and Mid Eastern mythology stem from the cult of snakes found in religions throughout the world. Eastern European Dragons Dragons in Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and other Eastern European legends bear great similarity to the ancient Greek Hydra. In Russia and Ukraine, a particular dragon-like creature, Zmey Gorynych, has three heads, is green, walks on two back paws, has small front paws, and spits fire. According to one epic poem, Zmey Gorynych was killed by the heroic warrior Dobrynya Nikitich. Other Russian dragons (such as Tugarin Zmeyevich) have Turkic names, probably symbolizing the Mongols and other Oriental steppe peoples. Accordingly, St. George (symbolizing Christianity) killing the Dragon (symbolizing Satan and the invading hordes) is represented on the coat of arms of Moscow. In Slovenia, a dragon is called zmaj, although an archaic word of unclear origins, pozoj, is sometimes used as well. Dragons in Slovenia are generally evil in nature, and usually appear in relation with St. George. Other, presumably pre-Christian, folk tales relate stories of dragons defeated similarly (such as the Polish Wawel Dragon), by feeding them sulfur stuffed sheep. However, the dragon is not always harmful to humans. The best example of a good dragon is the Ljubljana Dragon, who benevolently protects the city of Ljubljana and is pictured in the city's coat of arms. The Classic European Green Dragon Silver Dollar is the fifth and final entry in the new and exciting Dragons of Legend Series, released by the Perth Mint. Technology Note The Perth Mint of Australia employs its own proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The vibrant hues and precise execution of the technology create a stunning, full-color portrait on each coin. Obverse A full color portrait of an European Green Dragon, set against a dramatic, fantastical landscape. The legends DRAGONS OF LEGEND and EUROPEAN GREEN DRAGON denote the theme, while the legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. Reverse A frosted cameo portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend QUEEN ELIZABETH II and denomination also appear. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside a black leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and satin, and protected by a full-color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Specifications Country Tuvalu Mint Perth Mint of Australia Year of Issue 2013 Face Value One Dollar Weight 31.135 g Diameter 40.60 mm Gauge (Thickness) 4.00 mm Mintage Limit 5,000 Finish Proof with Color Composition .999 Fine (Pure) Silver Edge Reeded (milled, serrated) Artist Howard David Johnson (obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse) Certificate Individually Numbered The Island Nation of Tuvalu Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbors are Kiribati, Samoa and Fiji. It is comprised of four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 11,992 makes it the third-least populated independent country in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. It is also the second-smallest member by population of the United Nations. In terms of physical land size, at just 10 square miles Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City, Monaco and Nauru. The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people, who arrived about 3000 years go. The islands came under Great Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974 the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within The Commonwealth in 1978. with Queen Elizabeth II as titular head of state. Because Tuvalu has few natural resources it has been dependent in recent years upon aid from larger, more developed nations, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The Perth Mint of Australia is officially commissioned by the government of Tuvalu to produce legal tender coinage for the island nation. Copyright © 2024 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.
Price: 104.95 USD
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
End Time: 2024-10-20T01:11:52.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Brand: The Perth Mint
Coin: Dragons of Legend Silver Proof
Composition: Silver
Year: 2013
Fineness: 0.999
Strike Type: Proof Uncirculated
Grade: Uncirculated Proof
Precious Metal Content per Unit: 1 Troy Ounce Pure Silver
Country/Region of Manufacture: Australia
Brand/Mint: The Perth Mint
Total Precious Metal Content: 1 Troy Ounce Pure Silver
Certification: In Full Original Mint Packaging + Certificate