2020 - Niue 5 NZD Gold Coin Mythical Creatures - Phoenix - Proof

Mythical Creatures

The Czech Mint introduces Phoenix on the second gold coin from the collector's cycle Mythical Creatures.

We know the word phoenix from Greek, but mythical birds endowed with supernatural power occur in the mythology of many nations. It is called Bennu in Egypt, Garuda and Bherunda in India, Simorgh in Persia, Paskunji in Georgia, Anqa in Arabia, Konrul in Turkey, Me Byi Karmo in Tibet, Fenghuang and Zhu Que in China, Hō-Japons in Japan and Firebird in Slavic folklore. Each of them represent different values - while Fenghuang expresses the harmony of feminine and masculine principle, Anqa was bird of prey that was destroyed by God... But all these birds have one thing in common - they symbolize the eternal cycle of rebirth. This cycle takes the following form: the old phoenix burns itself to death and dies every five centuries in order to rise from the ashes in full force.

According to medal maker Maria Filová DiS., the burning Phoenix features several feathered birds - the beak and claws of the eagle, the swan's neck, and the peacock's tail. The creature is accompanied by an English inscription PHOENIX. The coin does not have a classic coin frame, however, the relief is surrounded by decorative ornaments that pervade the entire collector´s cycle. Since the Czech Mint coins are issued with a foreign license of the island of Niue, the obverse side bears the name and the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of the issue 2020.

You can store all twelve gold coins from the cycle Mythical Creatures in the collector's book that is also offered by the Czech Mint.