Unicorns Spotted on Coins
“Today, it is said that the unicorn never existed. However, it is marvelously clear that when the unicorn was first described, and centuries later, when the tapestries were woven, everyone believed in unicorns.” ~ Marianna Mayer.
Mythical creatures continue to fascinate both children and adults alike. Something about dragons, fairies, mermaids, and unicorns that can capture anyone’s sense of wonder, not to mention there are so many different kinds of each, and the imagination of a child can easily create more.
Recently, the Portuguese Mint Casa Da Moeda released a new series of coins, “Heroes and Creatures of Mythology,” to celebrate the magical creatures everyone can recognize. The first coin in the series is the majestic unicorn.
The unicorn is often depicted as a large white horse with a flowing mane and tail and a long, pointed horn on its head, but there have been variations in design over the years, a common secondary description being of a goat instead of a horse.
One of the earliest descriptions of the unicorn comes from Greek historian Ctesias in about 400 B.C. The unicorn is almost always seen as a symbol of purity and gentleness but also of great power.
It was believed that drinking from a unicorn horn could protect the drinker from poisons, so cups made from them were highlight sought after in the Middle Ages. These horn cups were actually typically made from rhinoceros’ horns or narwhal tusks.
The unicorn has long since retired from being captured to protect against poisons and has since become a fantasy symbol for children. In this case of the Casa da Moeda, artist Susa Monteiro shows the majestic animal hidden amongst the branches of a pomegranate tree. The symbolism of pomegranates usually equates to the underworld, providing an interesting contrast to the purity of the unicorn.
The coin is available in either cupronickel, silver, or gold, with mintages of 30,000, 3,000, and 2,000, respectively. The 5-euro coins have the unicorn and pomegranate tree on both the obverse and the reverse, with the unicorn lying amongst the branches on the reverse. These coins will go as fast as the unicorn itself, so capturing it may be tricky, but that will make the acquisition for your collection all the sweeter.
