The second of the New Seven Wonders of the World is the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá. The legendary monument is commemorated by a gold coin from the Czech Mint weighing one-tenth of a troy ounce.

The feathered serpent, called Kukulkan by the Mayans and Quetzalcóatl by the Aztecs, is the supreme Mesoamerican god, creator of the world and human civilisation. Unlike most Native American supernatural beings, he is considered good - overseeing the sciences, arts, commerce, crafts and agriculture - yet he demands human sacrifice. He rules the winds and brought mankind not only calendars and books, but also corn and chocolate... The ancient Maya, who inhabited the city of Chichén Itzá on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, held Kukulkan in high esteem, and so dedicated a magnificent pyramid to him. The sophisticated structure has a square floor plan and four staircases - each with 91 steps. At the top, 24 metres high, there is a platform that forms the 365th step, which corresponds to the number of days in the Mayan year. The idea that Kukulkan's pyramid was a kind of gigantic calendar is supported by the fact that the setting sun creates a magical effect at the spring and autumn equinox. The statues cast a shadow that looks like a snake slithering down the steps to the serpent's head carved into the base of the structure. There are many other sights to be found in Chichén Itzá - natural wells, an observatory, a playground and a number of temples, but only Kukulkan's pyramid has been preserved in good condition. Today, it is one of Mexico's biggest tourist attractions and no wonder. Our imaginations are sparked by the bloody rituals the Mayans used to appease the gods, as well as the mysterious disappearance of the city's inhabitants three hundred years before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century…

The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of the medal maker Ludmila Kracíková, DiS., presents the actual image of the Pyramid of Kukulkan, supplemented with the inscription CHICHÉN ITZÁ. On the obverse side, which is common to the entire cycle, all the new seven wonders of the world appear - the Brazilian statue of Christ the Saviour, the Jordanian rock city of Petra, the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá in Mexico, the Roman Colosseum, the Indian monument of the Taj Mahal, the Inca seat of Machu Picchu in Peru and the Great Wall of China. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the foreign license of the island of Niue, they also bear its national emblem, the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2024 on the obverse side.

Each coin is sealed in special packaging.

Note: The packaging is covered with foil to prevent damage during transport.