MNAJDRA TEMPLE Equinox and Solstice 2 Oz Silver Coin 10$ Palau 2022

Equinox & Solstice

Back in prehistoric times mankind was able to built structures that aligned with the sun at certain times of the year. Isn’t that intriguing? These time are brought back to life in a brand new coin series: “Equinox & Solstice” by Numiscollect.

The terms “Solstice” refers to a time around June 21 and December 21, when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly or southerly excursion before reversing direction. Conversing, the terms “Equinox” refers to a time around 20 March and 23 September when the plane of Earth’s equator passes through the geometric centre of the Sun’s disc. These four occasions have been used in numerous celebrations for thousands of years and are regarded as the beginning of the four seasons.

There are numerous proven and speculated examples of ancient constructions linked to the Solstice and Equinox dates, from Stonehenge to the Great Pyramids of Giza. Numiscollct has chosen the temple ruins at Mnajdra on the Mediterranean island of Malta to start this new incredible series.

Mnajdra Temple

Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex found on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island of Malta. The temple complex consists of three structures from different prehistoric periods, with the oldest one possibly having over 5500 years. These are known as the East Temple (the oldest), the South Temple and the Central Temple.

The South Temple at Mnajdra is the most famous of the three. It is aligned with the four seasons, and if you visit the temple at sunrise on the first day of each season, you’ll have a remarkable experience: as the sun rises above the Ħaġar Qim hill, a ray of sun enters the main door and hits one of two large slabs on the inside of the temple, depending on the season.

Although there are no written records to indicate the purpose of these structures, archaeologists have inferred their use from ceremonial objects found within them: sacrificial flint knives and rope holes that were possibly used to constrain animals for sacrifice, since various animal bones were found. Many artifacts recovered from within the temples suggest that they were used for religious purposes, perhaps to heal illness and to promote fertility.

The coin

The first release in the “Equinox & Solstice” series features the enhanced Smartminting technology with Ultra High Relief to bring ancient times back to lilfe. The coin is struck on a 2 Oz pure Silver 45 mm blank in the highest Antiqued Quality. It has a limited mintage of only 555 pieces worldwide and comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The reverse depicts a panoramic view of the Mnajdra Temples in Malta with the Equinox sunrays entering the temple. People are gathering in front of the temple to watch this event, their shadows are depicted on the ground - another clever nod to the solar subject. In the background, a village with huts, livestock and more.

The obverse shows the view from inside the Solar Temple looking out at the sun, here represented by a yellow Swarovski crystal insert. The inside of the temple is depicted as it probably looked like many years ago, nicely embellished with idols and pottery. The Coat of Arms of Palau is perfectly integrated without spoiling the overall look.

The two sides of the coin are perfectly balanced and complemet each other, pointing to a lot of thought put into the overall design.

MNAJDRA TEMPLE Equinox and Solstice 2 Oz Silver Coin 10$ Palau 2022 is a great release with an interesting subject, we look forward to seeing where this new series takes us in the years to come. Available to order now on Power Coin website.

Collect, Invest, Enjoy!