Gibraltar is a small British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, bordered to the north by Spain. Its currency is the Gibraltar Pound, which is locally interchangeable with the Pound Sterling, to which it is pegged at par; however, the Gibraltar Pound is legal tender only in Gibraltar and not in the United Kingdom.
The territory has also authorised some mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction. These latter are usually in standard bullion sizes, such as one ounce of gold - designated as 1 oz Au, where Au is abbreviated from Aurum, the Latin word for gold.
This coin is part of a Scottsdale Mint series of Gibraltar bullion coins, and depicts a War Elephant.
The mint says about it: In the ancient tapestry of warfare, the colossal figure of the war elephant stands as a majestic giant, its colossal form etching tales of conquest and splendor across the annals of time. Originating from the mist-shrouded realms of South Asia, these leviathans became the trumpeting embodiment of power on the battlefield.
Imagine the scene – the earth quaking beneath their mighty footsteps as they marched, adorned with grandeur, through jungles and vast plains. The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and the earthy aroma of the beasts themselves, their wrinkled skin painted in hues of ochre and gold.
Historically, these awe-inspiring creatures were more than mere instruments of war; they were revered symbols of might and dominion. Carrying towering howdahs upon their colossal backs, adorned with banners that fluttered in the breeze, war elephants became the living, breathing thrones of generals and kings. Their eyes, gleaming with a mix of intelligence and gentleness, hinted at the centuries of intricate bonds forged between humans and these magnificent creatures.
Yet, their trumpeting cries also echoed the thunderous chaos of battle, marking these giants as both protectors and harbingers of destruction. As time wove its complex tapestry, the war elephant traversed continents, leaving indelible footprints in the sands of history, a colossal saga of power, companionship, and the untamed wild. |