The exceptional third release in the Four Auspicious Beasts series features the Black Tortoise.
The Black Tortoise of the North is usually depicted as a snake coiled around the body of a tortoise. It is the belief of ancient Chinese that the tortoise and snake are spiritual creatures that symbolize longevity - the tortoise being representative of resilience and tenacity, and the snake illustrating vitality and intelligence.
Struck from 2oz of 99.9% pure silver using a new minting technique called “Bi-Metal Reverse”, that combines 2oz of silver as a base with a top layer of 11.5 oz of copper, the result is a super ultra-high relief that brings out every detail to maximum effect, then finished with antiqued silver.
In this piece, the Black Tortoise stands strong with dominance amidst choppy waters and strong waves to claim its association with the element of Water. The tortoise shell and skin of the snake surfaces beautifully on the surface with ornate detail, brought to life on a super ultra-high relief. Both their jaws are open with teeth bared as a show of the Black Tortoise’s powers.
A layer of gold is carefully gilded onto the Black Tortoise’s Chinese name and the title of the series to match its prowess and stature as one of the four Auspicious Beasts. An ancient Chinese constellation map sits on its obverse surrounding an octagon shape inspired by the yin-yang elements that houses the legal tender.
Coin Highlights:
Mint | Precious Metal Collectors |
---|---|
Country Of Issue | Republic Of Chad |
Year | 2021 |
Denomination | 10,000 Francs CFA |
Metal Type | Silver, Copper |
Weight (g) | 62.2, 326.01 |
Purity (%) | 99.9 |
Diameter (mm) | 80.00 |
Mintage | 500 |