Gold coin Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Statue of Zeus at Olympia - proof

Seven wonders of the ancient world
The fourth of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. The Czech Mint commemorates the legendary monument by issuance of a gold coin weighing one troy ounce.

Zeus was the supreme deity of the ancient Greeks. He ruled not only people but also the other gods from the top of Mount Olympus. He sent thunder and lightning to those who displeased him, but he could also love - especially women. Despite his divine power, he was not omniscient or omnipotent, and certainly not infallible. He could be kind, generous and just, but he also had a big ego, was easily angered and vindictive... The ancient centre of the cult of Zeus was Olympia in the Peloponnese, famous as the birthplace of the Olympic Games and one of the most important city-states of the Greek Empire. When mortals needed the advice of Zeus, they visited the temple, where priests mediated his will. The sanctuary at Olympia, built in the 5th century BC, was truly magnificent. It was one of the largest temples in the world and the central statue of the ruler of the gods sitting on his throne became one of the Seven Wonders of the World. When an artist named Pheidias discovered it, astonished witnesses asked him whether he had ascended Mount Olympus to see Zeus or whether Zeus had descended from Olympus to show himself. The dull ivory skin contrasted with the shining gold of his hair. The throne of cedar and ebony was covered with scenes from ancient Greek legends. The stunned people had worshipped the majestic Zeus for eight centuries. Then the statue, which was moved to Constantinople, was burned by fanatical Christians who hated pagan idols…

The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of the medal maker Petra Brodská, DiS., presents the Statue of Zeus, which is separated from the English inscription of THE STATUE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA by a hinge. The obverse side, which is common to the entire cycle, then presents all Seven Wonders of the World - the Egyptian pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse on the island of Faro. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the foreign licence of the island of Niue, their obverse side also bears the portrait and name of Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value of 50 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2022.

The schedule of issuance has only 200 one-ounce coins.