| Coin | Silver Ounce 2016 Christ Pantocrator Mosaic |
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The Cook Islands, a sovereign state in free association with New Zealand, uses two official legal tender currencies. The New Zealand Dollar circulates in parallel with the local Cook Islands Dollar; at the same time, the government also authorises many legal tender coins in the Cook Islands Dollar currency for collector's purposes. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes, including one ounce of silver - such as this coin.
This coin, featuring the Christ Pantocrator Mosaic from the ceiling of the cathedral in Monreale in Palermo, Italy is the second issue in a NumisCollect / CIT series of concave coins featuring "Wonderful Mosaics".
The cathedral in Monreale, Palermo, is regarded as the most beautiful of the Norman churches in Sicily. The mosaics were made with 2,200 kg of pure gold, experts have estimated. Craftsmen from Constantinople were employed to expedite the work. The Byzantine mosaics are among the most magnificent in the world. Documentary evidence dates the royal construction project to 1174, although initiatives in planning and preparation can be projected back to the death of King William I in 1166. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: ELIZABETH II 5 DOLLARS COOK ISLANDS 2016.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows, above, the coloured mosaic from the ceiling of the Monreale Cathedral in Palermo, Italy.
At centre, in old-style script, the inscription CHRIST PANTOCRATOR.
Below, an image of the exterior of the church; to the left of it, MONREALE PALERMO; to the right, VIIth CENTURY.
Around below, on a background resembling mosaic stones, the name of the series: WONDERFUL MOSAICS. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
CHRIST PANTOCRATOR MONREALE PALERMO VIIth CENTURY WONDERFUL MOSAICS |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured, concave.
Packing: in capsule, boxed, with Certificate of Authenticity.
NumisCollect Item ID: CK1602
CIT Item ID: 27506
The most common translation of Pantocrator is "Almighty" or "All-powerful". In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek words πᾶν, pan (gen. pantos), i.e. "all" and κράτος, kratos, i.e. "strength", "might", "power". This is often understood in terms of potential power; i.e., ability to do anything, omnipotence. Another, more literal translation is "Ruler of All" or, less literally, "Sustainer of the World". In this understanding, Pantokrator is a compound word formed from the Greek for "all" and the verb meaning "To accomplish something" or "to sustain something" (κρατεω). This translation speaks more to God's actual power; i.e., God does everything (as opposed to God can do everything). |
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