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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2020 – Tre Grazie (The Three Graces)
This 2 Oz Silver Coin is the fifth issue of the new series “Eternal Sculptures.” This coin has two-sides Smartminting! This coin features marble effect, has unbelievable details on the high relief surface and a Black Proof quality.
Limited mintage to only 999 pcs worldwide.
Originally commissioned by Joséphine de Beauharnais, the famous French dictator, Napoleon’s first wife, The Three Graces is a 1.82m tall sculpture in white marble. Carved in Rome by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, it was completed in 1814 and now resides in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
John Russell, the 6th Duke of Bedford, saw the almost completed statue in Canova’s studio and tried unsuccessfully to purchase it. So enamoured by the work, he had Canova make a second, slightly different version which was carved between 1815-1817. This version, said to be preferred by Canova, now resides in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, or the Scottish National Gallery (It is jointly owned). It originally sat in a custom built top-lit rotunda called the Temple of the Graces and was one of the most widely admired works of the time.
The ‘de Beauharnais’ version was carved in a veined marble, but the ‘Bedford’ version changed that to a clean white marble. Other differences were a change from a square to round base,and a slightly thicker waist on the central figure. They remain fundamentally the same, however.
The statue, in the Neoclassical style, depicts the three charities, Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia, all daughters of Zeus. They were said to represent mirth (Euphrosyne), elegance (Aglaea), and youth/beauty (Thalia). They were said to have delighted the guests of the gods by presiding over events, like banquets, for example.
As for Canova, he remains admired as one of the greatest European artists of his day and his works some of the best of any period. Born on 1 November 1757, he died on 13 October 1822. He had an impressive career, working with many of the periods great figures, even sculpting a statue of George Washington as a Roman Emperor that was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1831. After his death, his estate was used to complete the Tempio Canoviano where his body was interred, although his heart was interred at the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, and his right hand preserved in a vase at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Every plaster model and sculpture from Canova’s Roman studio was removed and placed in the Tempio, which is sited on a hilltop in Possagno in the Province of Treviso.
The obverse of the coin reproduces the incredible front view of the famous sculpture by Antonio Canova – Tre Grazie. An exceptional high relief and the use of a special paint to recreate the sculpture's natural marble look, emphasizes the extraordinary beauty of this piece of art in miniature. All around the obversee, a floral decorative pattern completes the coin. On the right side of the obverse, the wonderful logo of the series and the inscriptions: "ETERNAL SCULPTURES" - the name of the series and "TRE GRAZIE" – the name of the coin. On the bottom of the obverse, the year of issue written in Roman numbers: "MMXX" - 2020.
The reverse of the coin reproduces the back view of the sculpture, using the same finishes and marble effect. All around of the obverse, a beautiful decorative pattern. On the left side, the Coat of Arms of Palau and the inscriptions: "REPUBLIC OF PALAU" – the issuing country and "10 DOLLARS" – the face value.
Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean. Koror Island is home to the former capital, also named Koror, and is the islands’ commercial center. The larger Babeldaob has the present capital, Ngerulmud, plus mountains and sandy beaches on its east coast. In its north, ancient basalt monoliths known as Badrulchau lie in grassy fields surrounded by palm trees. ― Google
Capital: Ngerulmud
Official languages: Palauan, English
Continent: Oceania
Government: Republic, Unitary state, Representative democracy, Presidential system, Non-partisan democracy
Currency: United States Dollar
Population: 18,024 (2021) World Bank
Number of islands: 340 britannica.com
Photos taken with Nikon D3300 DSL Camera with attached AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G lens. Adobe Photoshop Elements used to fix any digital artifacts.