Gibraltar - Flower Coins
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The Gibraltar Government released a series of coins depicting a different beautiful flowers. As legal tender, every coin bears on its obverse a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse displays a superbly detailed relief of the flower for that year. These coins are made of CuNi (Cupro Nickel) in a Brilliant Uncirculated minting, which gives them amazingly fine detail on the shiny finish. We have a limited quantity of these coins available.
| Gibraltar - Peony Flower Coin | |
|
The 1997 coin in the
Gibraltar flower coin series features the beautiful Peony. This
coin from Gibraltar has a lovely arrangement of peony flowers on the back, and an
effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the
front.
The peony is native to many parts of Europe and was first brought to England by the Roman legions about the year 1200. In England, the red-flowered peony was said to glow in the dark (some varieties do have phosphorescent qualities) and was often planted beside doorways to ward off evil spirits. It was described in botanical books as early as 1636 and was soon considered so tolerant of neglect that the rich thought it "vulgar" and left it to flourish in the cottage gardens of the peasantry. Other species originated in China, where as early as 1596 at least 30 varieties were listed in nursery catalogues. A French missionary stationed in China, Pere Delevay, introduced some of these to Europe in the 1800s. The coin is made from Cupro-Nickel (CuNi) and is in Brilliant Uncirculated condition (it can also be called "proof-like"). The contrast in the photo at left was enhanced to show the striking coin detail. |
| Gibraltar - Rose Flower Coin | |
|
The 1996 coin in the
Gibraltar flower coin series features the beautiful Rose. This
coin from Gibraltar has a beautiful arrangement of roses on the back, and an
effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the
front.
Roses are among the oldest of cultivated flowers, with the first known to have grown in Asian gardens 5,000 years ago. In its untamed form the flower goes back even further; fossils of wild roses date back 35 million years. The ancients explained the beauty of the rose through myths of godly creation. The Greek goddess Chloris stumbled upon a beautiful dead nymph and turned her into a flower; Aphrodite added beauty; the three graces added brilliance, joy, and charm. Dionysious donated fragrant nectar, while Zephyrus the west wind blew away the clouds so Apollo could shower the rose in sun. The flower was then given to Eros, the deity of love, and named the "Queen of Flowers." The Romans had their own ideas on the rose's origin. According to their legend, many suitors were lined up to marry a beautiful woman named Rodanthe, but she had little interest in any of them. These men were so full of love and desire that they became rowdy and eventually broke down the doors to her house. This episode angered the goddess Diana, who turned the woman into a flower and her suitors into thorns to teach them a lesson. Whatever its origin, the rose is undeniably the best-known symbol of beauty and love. The coin is made from Cupro-Nickel (CuNi) and is in Brilliant Uncirculated condition (it can also be called "proof-like"). The contrast in the photo at left was enhanced to show the striking coin detail. |
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