6 of 12 coins in Twelve Labours of Hercules series, Niue 2018—2022, 5 Dollars, 2 oz, 45 mm, antique finish ultra high relief coin, gold plated, client: Magikos-Coins, producer: Mint of Poland.

Stay tuned for the next 6 coins!

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Slay the Nemean lion

Niue 2018.

The last-minute changes (gilding) on Nemean Lion (the first project in Twelve Labours of Hercules series) determined the look of the whole series (read more here). Next five coins have been designed so that the gilded elements do not overload the whole composition.

I had no problem with gilded elements on Lernaean Hydra (three small golden heads), Ceryneian Hind (golden horns—BTW if the hind is a female, it should not have horns 🙂 ), Erymanthian Boar (golden tusks) and Stymphalian Birds (metallic feathers). But what should I gild on Augean Stables? A shit? 😉 I don’t think the issuer would agree to that. According to the myth I could put in stables cleaning scene: the horses, the bulls, water and architecture… Nothing more. The horse has nothing special to gild—there is no harness (the horse must be unharnessed because it must be able to escape from the stable). The bull has horns to gild, but horns will be gilded on the seventh coin in this series—the Cretan Bull. There is no point in repeating the same gold plated motif. So the golden water? Too big surface to gild—we will have the same effect of overload as on Nemean Lion reverse. Would some architectural details work? Finally the Doric column in the hands of Hercules was gilded. Phew! I got it!

Slay the nine-headed Lernaean hydra

Niue 2019.

Capture the Ceryneian hind

Niue 2020.

Capture the Erymanthian boar

Niue 2021.

Clean the Augean stables

Niue 2021.

Slay the Stymphalian birds

Niue 2022.

The obverse in Twelve Labours of Hercules series was designed with the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. After the death of The Queen in 2022, next six coins in this series will have the obverse changed.

edit: 6 of 12 coins in this series: here.

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I love drawing man anatomy. That is why this project was so exceptional for me. Hercules (in Ancient Rome) or Heracles (in Ancient Greece) was a muscled guy, who has 12 works to accomplish. These tasks was commissioned by Eurystheus, king of Mycenaean fortress Tiryns. The first job of Hercules was to slay the vicious lion of Nemea. That lion had skin that no blade could pierce. How Hercules killed the beast? European art depicts Hercules strangling or ripping the jaw of the lion with his bare hands. I chose option N° 2 — I found the scene more dramatic.
Originally, the design of the reverse was supposed not to have any decoration. The composition was drawn kipping in mind that there will be no gilding. I was disappointed that the client finally decided to gild the entire lion’s head (instead of something smaller). Gilding made the relief too flat and, I think, it changed the readability of the crutial part of the scene. Now the lion has an artifficial looking head. What a pity!

They said about this coin:

“(…) this is an early look, but we’re reassured by the mints track record of issuing sketches and renders at this stage, which then go on to be realised as quite superb physical coins.” AgAuNews
“Since then, we’ve recieved the CGI renders that the Mint of Poland puts out for its premium issues and we can see the potential of this one much more clearly now.” AgAuNews