Halfway point!
6 of 12 coins in Twelve Labours of Hercules series, Niue 2018—2022, 5 Dollars, 2 oz, 45 mm, antique finish ultra high relief coin, gold plated, client: Magikos-Coins, producer: Mint of Poland.
Stay tuned for the next 6 coins!
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Slay the Nemean lion
Niue 2018.
The last-minute changes (gilding) on Nemean Lion (the first project in Twelve Labours of Hercules series) determined the look of the whole series (read more here). Next five coins have been designed so that the gilded elements do not overload the whole composition.
I had no problem with gilded elements on Lernaean Hydra (three small golden heads), Ceryneian Hind (golden horns—BTW if the hind is a female, it should not have horns 🙂 ), Erymanthian Boar (golden tusks) and Stymphalian Birds (metallic feathers). But what should I gild on Augean Stables? A shit? 😉 I don’t think the issuer would agree to that. According to the myth I could put in stables cleaning scene: the horses, the bulls, water and architecture… Nothing more. The horse has nothing special to gild—there is no harness (the horse must be unharnessed because it must be able to escape from the stable). The bull has horns to gild, but horns will be gilded on the seventh coin in this series—the Cretan Bull. There is no point in repeating the same gold plated motif. So the golden water? Too big surface to gild—we will have the same effect of overload as on Nemean Lion reverse. Would some architectural details work? Finally the Doric column in the hands of Hercules was gilded. Phew! I got it!
Slay the nine-headed Lernaean hydra
Niue 2019.
Capture the Ceryneian hind
Niue 2020.
Capture the Erymanthian boar
Niue 2021.
Clean the Augean stables
Niue 2021.
Slay the Stymphalian birds
Niue 2022.
The obverse in Twelve Labours of Hercules series was designed with the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. After the death of The Queen in 2022, next six coins in this series will have the obverse changed.
