This wonderful 1 Oz Silver coin is the third release in the now famous Pysanka series, dedicated to the incredible Ukrainian craftsmanship with this Easter Egg. The coin has a wonderful Gold plating, has a beautiful colouration, has a Proof quality and comes in an elegant case, along with the Certificate of Authenticity. Limited mintage of 5.000 pcs worldwide. The reverse of the coin presents the design by Canadian artist Ann C. Morash, a pysanka-theme adorned with multiple precision engraved patterns and traditional symbols that, when viewed together as one, express a wish for spring to arrive and the earth to awaken from its winter slumber. A full colour application allows glimpses of the coins reverse gold plating, which adds a golden nuance to select elements throughout the reverse. As per Ukrainian tradition, each colour carries deeper meaning: blue is for the sky, the air, and life-giving health; yellow signifies youth and purity; red is the colour of joy and passion; green is associated with spring and its message of hope and renewal; and black suggests the darkest time before dawn, and the idea of eternity. The outer edge features a partial view of a flower that symbolizes beauty and the blossoming of spring, followed by a linear pattern of branches and sprouting buds that represent natures awakening. As a stylistic representation of birds, the coxcombs within the next band symbolize spring and fertility, while the dots represent tears. The widest band features a traditional representation of stars and the sun as a symbol of life, good fortune and growth; the solar theme extends to the circles that represent eternity and the light of the sun, while the wavy lines signify the suns rays and human frailty. The small triangles represent a trinity: fire, air and water, or a more spiritual-based interpretation that includes the heavens. On the center of the reverse, the inscriptions: 20 DOLLARS the face value, 2018 the year of issue and CANADA the issuing country. The obverse of the coin depicts the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the inscriptions: ELIZABETH II the name of the Queen and D · G · REGINA Dei Gratia Regina. Pysanka egg Simply put, it is an Easter egg decorated using a wax resist (aka batik) method. Its name derives from the Ukrainian verb pysaty, meaning to write. (Pysanka is the singular form; pysanky is plural). But it is much more than that. Ukrainians have been decorating eggs, creating these miniature jewels, for countless generations. There is a ritualistic element involved, magical thinking, a calling out to the gods and goddesses for health, fertility, love, and wealth. There is a yearning for eternity, for the sun and stars, for whatever gods that may be. The design motifs on pysanky date back to pre-Christian timesmany date to early Slavic cultures, while some harken to the days of the Trypillians, my neolithic ancestors, others to paleolithic times. While the symbols have remained through the ages, their interpretation has changed, in an act of religious syncretism. A triangle that once spoke of the three elements, earth, fire and air, now celebrates the Christian Holy Trinity. The cross which depicted the rising sun is now the symbol of the risen Christ. Sun and star symbols once referred to Dazhboh, the sun god, and now refer to the one Christian God. And the fish, which spoke of a plentiful catch and a full stomach, now stands in for Christ, the fisher of men. Even so, under this Christian veneer, there still lurk the berehynia and the serpent, the sun and the moon, the old gods, the old ways, and the old beliefs. The item “UKRAINIAN PYSANKA Easter Spring Egg Folk Art 1 Oz Silver Coin 20$ Canada 2018″ is in sale since Thursday, February 22, 2018. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins\ Canada\Commemorative”. The seller is “powercoin_italy” and is located in Roma. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Circulated/Uncirculated: Uncirculated
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Canada