Golden treasures

Gold has held humans in awe for centuries, dating back to some of the earliest known civilisations. The ancient Egyptians considered the lustrous metal to be the skin of their deities, particularly the sun god, Ra. Worn by royalty and priests, the precious substance was often featured in funerary art, most famously the death mask of Tutankhamun who reigned from approximately 1336-1327 BCE. This image of his mask is featured on the reverse of this stunning antiqued coin, along with other Egyptian hieroglyphics and symbols associated with the golden metal.

Ancient Egyptian design

The reverse of the coin features gold particles encased in Perspex, surrounded by representations of Egyptian hieroglyphics and symbols. These include sacred images denoting protection, eternal life and royalty such as the Eye of Horus, a pyramid, a vase, the goddess Isis, a falcon, an ankh hieroglyph representing life, a sarcophagus and a scarab. Also included in the design is the inscription '2oz 9999 SILVER' and The Perth Mint's 'P' mintmark.