History lovers, those who collect coins related to the Aztecs or ancient peoples in general or anyone who loves a rare, unique coin for their collection might enjoy the first item minted in the Archeology and Symbolism series. The 2018 Antique Cook Islands Aztec Calendar Stone 3 oz Silver Coin was minted for the Cook Islands and concentrates on the iconography of the Aztec people.

Highlights

• Coin is protected for shipping in a plastic slab!
• Part of 2018 minting!
• Contains 3 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Face value equal to $20 (CID) issued by the Cook Islands.
• MS70-grade per PCGS.
• Obverse image brings together a portrait of Elizabeth II and question mark full of symbols.
• Reverse image is of the Aztec calendar.

Obverse
The inscriptions on the obverse of the coin include ELIZABETH II, 20 DOLLARS, COOK ISLANDS and 2018. These are fairly standard inscriptions for Cook Islands coinage, and the obverse even sports a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, as is the case on many coins from this nation. The effigy that appears here is the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait. However, the Queen’s image is smaller on this coin and offset to the left to allow room for a large question mark full of a complex design depicting many Aztec symbols.

Reverse
On the reverse, you’ll find inscriptions that include AZTEC CALENDAR STONE, TENOCHTITLAN and 2018. Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec empire. The Aztec calendar stone is a priceless artifact that tells the story of the Aztec creation myth. It’s also called the Aztec sun stone, and the actual artifact is located in Mexico’s National Anthropology Museum. The reverse of this coin includes an elaborate image of the calendar stone, complete with many incredible details.

Packaging
This 65mm coin was smartminted, which supported extremely high relief and the exacting visual details you see on both sides. It gets an MS70 grade from PCGS as a flawless Mint State coin, so it’s something you’ll want to keep safe. We start by shipping it in a protective plastic slab with the PCGS labels.

History
The Aztec calendar stone was probably an altar or other item dedicated to Tonatiuh, who is the Aztec sun god. Historians believe the stone was carved between 1502 and 1520 during the reign of Motecuhzoma II. While the stone holds some calendar-related symbols, it’s not a calendar. The stone was lost to history at some point and rediscovered by archeologists in 1790.

Order
Secure your piece of Aztec history and a gorgeous coin for your collection today. Order the 2018 Antique Cook Islands Aztec Calendar Stone Silver Coin from Provident Metals online or by calling 1-800-313-3315. If you have questions, you can also reach out via chat or email.