Set Description
The Series
“Eternal Sculptures” is a coin series that celebrates the classic sculptures that have become eternal. The first coin to be issued was “Cupid and Psyche”, followed by “Venus de Milo”, reproducing the homonymous masterpieces, both preserved in the Louvre Museum. The decision to adopt Smartminting Technology and the wonderful marble effect on both sides of the Silver Coins, has opened the doors to a new way of minting surprising the Numismatics World.
Set Goals
In this series, there were 5 coins produced as 2 oz and the capstone coin that is a 5 oz coin. There is a 2nd series, Eternal Sculptures II, with the first coin "Moses" and the 2nd coin "Disillusion" on sale and produced as a 3 oz coin. A custom set will be created for this set also.
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| 2016 S$10, Palau, Cupid & Psyche |
PALAU
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S$10 2016 CUPID & PSYCHE
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2016 – Cupid & Psyche
This 2 Oz Silver Coin is the first issue of the new series “Eternal Sculptures” and is dedicated to a love story, originally from Metamorphoses, and well known sculpture - Cupid and Psyche. For the first time, a 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.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss is a sculpture by Antonio Canova first commissioned in 1787 by Colonel John Campbell. It is regarded as a masterpiece of Neoclassical sculpture, but shows the mythological lovers at a moment of great emotion, characteristic of the emerging movement of Romanticism. It represents the god Cupid in the height of love and tenderness, immediately after awakening the lifeless Psyche with a kiss. The story of Cupid and Psyche is taken from Lucius Apuleius’ Latin novel The Golden Ass, and was popular in art.
Joachim Murat acquired the first or prime version in 1800. After his death the statue entered the Louvre Museum in Paris, France in 1824; Prince Yusupov, a Russian nobleman acquired the 2nd version of the piece from Canova in Rome in 1796, and it later entered the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
Having been recently awakened, Psyche reaches up towards her lover, Cupid, as he gently holds her by supporting her head and breast. Antonio Canova’s fine technique in carving marble contrasts their realistic smooth skin with the surrounding elements. Loosely draped around Psyche’s lower body, a sheet further emphasizes the difference between the texture of skin and drapery. Rough texture provides the basis of the rock upon which the composition is placed supplementing the distinctions of elements. Fine curls and lines make up the hair and light feathery details create realistic wings upon the landing Cupid.
The obverse of the coin depicts the famous sculpture Cupid and Psyche, in very high relief. In the center of the coin, this two protagonists are hugging in a love scene. The special paint used for the sculpture creates a beautiful marble effect. All around of the obverse, a floral decorative pattern all around the border. On the right side of the obverse, the logo and the name of the series: "Eternal Sculptures" and "Cupid and Psyche" – the name of the coin. In the bottom of the coin, an attractive inscription of the issue year with roman numbers: "MMXVI" - 2016.
The reverse of the coin depicts the other side of the sculpture, in High Relief and finished in the same marble effect. All around of the reverse, a beautiful decorative pattern. On the right side, the Coat of Arms of Palau and the face value: "10 Dollars".
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.
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| 2017 S$10, Palau, Venus De Milo |
PALAU
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S$10 2017 VENUS DE MILO
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2017 – Venus De Milo
This 2 Oz Silver Coin is the second 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.
Aphrodite of Milos, better known as the Venus de Milo, is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. Created sometime between 130 and 100 BCE, it is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty (Venus to the Romans). It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) high.
Part of an arm and the original plinth were lost following its discovery. From an inscription that was on its plinth, it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch; earlier, it was mistakenly attributed to the master sculptor Praxiteles. It is currently on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The statue is named after the Greek island of Milos, where it was discovered.
The Aphrodite of Milos is widely renowned for the mystery of her missing arms. There is a filled hole below her right breast that originally contained a metal tenon that would have supported the separately carved right arm.
The obverse of the coin depicts the famous sculpture Venus de Milo, in very High Relief. The special paint used for the sculpture creates a beautiful marble effect. All around of the obverse, a floral decorative pattern. On the right side of the obverse, the logo and the name of the series: "Eternal Sculptures" and "Venus de Milo" – the name of the coin. On the bottom of the obverse, an attractive inscription of the issue year with roman numbers: "MMXVII" - 2017.
The reverse of the coin depicts the other side of the sculpture, in High Relief and finished in the same marble effect. All around of the reverse, a beautiful decorative pattern. On the left side, the Coat of Arms of Palau and the face value: "10 Dollars"
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.
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| 2018 S$10, Palau, Rape of Proserpina |
PALAU
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S$10 2018 Rape of Proserpina
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2018 - Rape of Proserpina.
This 2 Oz Silver Coin is the third 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.
The Rape of Proserpina is a large Baroque marble sculptural group by Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, executed between 1621 and 1622. Bernini was only twenty-three years old at its completion. It depicts the Abduction of Proserpina, where Proserpina is seized and taken to the underworld by the god Pluto.
As with many of Bernini’s early works, it was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, possibly alongside a portrait of Scipione’s uncle Pope Paul V (who had died in 1621). Bernini received at least three payments for the statue, of value of at least 450 Roman scudi. The sculpture was begun in 1621 and completed in 1622. Quite soon after completion, the statue was given by Scipione to Cardinal Ludovisi in 1622, who transported it to his villa. Purchased by the Italian State, it returned to the Villa Borghese in 1908.
Proserpina is an ancient Roman goddess whose cult, myths and mysteries were based on those of Greek Persephone and her mother Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain and agriculture. Just as Persephone was thought to be a daughter of Demeter, Romans made Proserpina a daughter of Demeter’s Roman equivalent, Ceres. Like Persephone, Proserpina is associated with the underworld realm and its ruler; and along with her mother Ceres, with the springtime growth of crops and the cycle of life, death and rebirth or renewal. Her name is a Latinisation of “Persephone”. Her core myths – her forcible abduction by the god of the Underworld, her mother’s search for her and her eventual but temporary restoration to the world above – are the subject of works in Roman and later art and literature. In particular, Proserpina’s seizure by the god of the Underworld – usually described as the Rape of Proserpina, or of Persephone – has offered dramatic subject matter for Renaissance and later sculptors and painters.
The obverse of the coin reproduces the incredible front view of the famous sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the Rape of Proserpina. 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 obverse, 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 "RAPE OF PROSERPINA" – the name of the coin. On the bottom of the obverse, the year of issue written in Roman numbers: "MMXVIII" - 2018.
The reverse of the coin reproduces the back view of the sculpture, using the same finishes and marble effect. All around of the reverse, 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.
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| 2019 S$10, Palau, Leda and the Swan |
PALAU
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S$10 2019 Leda and the Swan
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NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2019 – Leda & The Swan
This 2 Oz Silver Coin is the fourth 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.
Leda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek mythology in which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces the mortal woman Leda. According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. In the W. B. Yeats version, it is subtly suggested that Clytemnestra, although being the daughter of Tyndareus, has somehow been traumatized by what the swan has done to her mother. According to many versions of the story, Zeus took the form of a swan and seduced Leda on the same night she slept with her husband King Tyndareus. In some versions, she laid two eggs from which the children hatched. In other versions, Helen is a daughter of Nemesis, the goddess who personified the disaster that awaited those suffering from the pride of Hubris.
The subject was rarely seen in the large-scale sculpture of antiquity, although a representation of Leda in sculpture has been attributed in modern times to Timotheus; small-scale sculptures survive showing both reclining and standing poses, in cameos and engraved gems, rings, and terracotta oil lamps. Recently, an ancient fresco depicting Leda and the Swan was found at the Pompeii archeological site in Italy. Thanks to the literary renditions of Ovid and Fulgentius it was a well-known myth through the Middle Ages, but emerged more prominently as a classicizing theme, with erotic overtones, in the Italian Renaissance.
The obverse of the coin reproduces the incredible front view of the famous sculpture, Leda and the Swan. 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 obverse, 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 "LEDA AND THE SWAN" – the name of the coin. On the bottom of the obverse, the year of issue written in Roman numbers: "MMXIX" - 2019.
The reverse of the coin reproduces the back view of the sculpture, using the same finishes and marble effect. All around of the reverse, 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.
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| 2020 S$10, Palau, Tre Graze |
PALAU
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S$10 2020 Tre Grazie
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NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
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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.
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| 2021 S$20, Palau, Ecstasy of St. Teresa |
PALAU
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S$20 2021 Ecstasy of St. Teresa
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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Palau Eternal Sculptures I
2021 – Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
This special coin has an all new design on the obverse – Bernini’s ‘Ecstacy of Saint Teresa’ and there are a few changes from the coins that have gone before. Most notable is the bumping up in the amount of fine silver from two ounces to five. This has allowed the diameter to increase from near 39 mm to 65 mm. The obverse looks ostensibly the same as the earlier coins, but also includes some gold colour. Not only is this an end of series special, the subject is part of a wider setting, which the colour helps reproduce. Each of the earlier coins showcased a sculpture that is freestanding in isolation.
The reverse differs considerably. In this case the sculpture does not pass through the coin, instead it’s replaced by a superb encapsulated view of the whole series of two-ounce coins in miniature form. You can see CIT’s enhanced smartminting at work here and it looks mightily impressive.
The obverse of the coin reproduces the incredible front view of the famous sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini – Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. The coin has 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 obverse, 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 "ECSTASY OF SAINT TERESA" – the name of the coin. On the bottom of the obverse, the year of issue written in Roman numbers: "MMXXI" - 2021.
All around the impressive reverse, the perfect miniature of all five coins in the series with the Coat of Arms of Palau and the inscriptions: "REPUBLIC OF PALAU" – the issuing country and "20 DOLLARS" – the face value.
From Wikipedia:
Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Year 1647–1652
Catalogue 48
Type Sculpture
Medium Marble
Dimensions Life-size
Location Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome
41°54′17″N 12°29′39″E
Preceded by Raimondi Chapel
Followed by Truth Unveiled by Time (Bernini)
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (also known as Saint Teresa in Ecstasy or the Transverberation of Saint Teresa; Italian: L'Estasi di Santa Teresa or Santa Teresa in estasi) is a sculptural group in white marble set in an elevated aedicule in the Cornaro Chapel of the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. It was designed and completed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the leading sculptor of his day, who also designed the setting of the Chapel in marble, stucco and paint. It is generally considered to be one of the sculptural masterpieces of the High Roman Baroque. The sculpture depicts Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish Carmelite nun and saint, swooning in a state of religious ecstasy, while an angel holding a spear stands over her.
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.
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