Gold Half Ounce Coin History of Gold - Treasures of Ancient Greece proof numbered

The History of Gold is the history of humanity. For thousands of years, the “yellow metal” has enabled people to build and destroy empires and pursue their dreams. The ancient Greeks knew this well, and the third gold coin in the Czech Mint’s thematic series is dedicated to them.

The Greek poet and philosopher Hesiod divided human history into several ages. In the oldest of these, people lived alongside the gods, were immortal, and enjoyed a blissful life. Nature provided them with everything, so they did not have to work. They did not suffer from pain or old age. They lived in harmony, free from evil and injustice. This perfect era, which will never return and can only be remembered, Hesiod called the Golden Age. The ancient Greeks perceived this metal, which was impervious to fire and time, as something supernatural. For them, gold was a symbol of lost perfection and a bridge between the human and divine worlds. In ancient mythology, it was omnipresent—one need only recall the apple of discord or the Golden Fleece. In temples, it served as the most noble offering to the gods. In art, it was used to express divine beauty and immortality. However, it also found its place in everyday life. The elite adorned themselves with breathtaking gold jewelry, which they even took with them to the grave. In the form of coins, gold served as currency, used to pay mercenaries, for example. When Alexander the Great established an empire that ruled most of the then-known world, a flood of the yellow metal from Persia inundated the Greek city-states. Wealth brought with it extravagance and corruption, and the Greeks came to realize that while gold can bring mortals closer to the gods, it can also undermine their morals. Just like the legendary King Midas, they themselves discovered that the luster of gold can be both a gift and a curse…

Medallist Mgr. Art.Miroslav Hric, ArtD., dedicated the reverse side of the coin to a rich historical collage. It is dominated by a portrait of Alexander the Great taken from a Greek coin, complemented by a gold jewel from a Greek treasure, classical Greek coins, and a period depiction of Greek soldiers. The obverse side, which is common to the entire coin series, features gold artifacts from various ancient civilizations - the Greeks, Aztecs, Sumerians, and Egyptians. Since the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with a foreign license from the island of Niue, the obverse side also bears its national coat of arms, the nominal value of 25 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue 2026.

The mintage totals only 100 pieces, with each piece numbered on the edge.