Silver Three Ounces 2023 Sparta, Coin from Cook Islands - detailed information

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 20 DOLLARS COOK ISLANDS 2023.

The portrait and inscriptions are in a small circle above the centre. The rest of the obverse depicts "The Return of Helen on a Quadriga" (four-horse chariot), a scene from the well-known tale by Homer.

The reverse of the coin depicts a close-up of a Spartan warrior holding a spear and a shield, displaying the upper part of the "lambda" symbol of Sparta (for Lacedaemon - the first king of Sparta for whom the place was originally named); the symbol, the warrior's helmet and the tip of the spear are gold plated. In the background, more soldiers and a woman in Greek dress.

Behind, the inscription SPARTA and an Ancient Greek "meander" ornamental pattern.

Finish: proof, selective gold plating, smartminting (Ultra High Relief).
CIT Item ID: 30210.

The obverse shows the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, even though the coin was issued during the reign of King Charles III.