June 19, 2014 – San Francisco, Ottawa, Saudi Arabia, Madrid … what sounds like the stops on a tempting trip around the world are actually the themes of the new coins in the “World of Wonders” series. Surely collectors will marvel at the brilliant colours of the world’s wonders depicted on these coins.
Coin “Mada’in Saleh”. Palau/ 5 Dollars/ Silver .925/ 20 g/ 38.61 mm/ Mintage: 2500 pieces. © Coin Invest Trust.
In the dry desert of Saudi Arabia, the vestiges of the ancient city Hegra, a fusion of classical and Islamic culture, bear witness to the city’s former grandeur. Since 2008, the vestiges are listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Mada’in Saleh (cities of Saleh), the city’s modern name, is a reminder of an ancient story: according to the Quran, the citizens once ridiculed the prophet Salih and were punished by God for it.
Coin “Las Ventas”. Palau/ 5 Dollars/ Silver .925/ 20 g/ 38.61 mm/ Mintage: 2500 pieces. © Coin Invest Trust.
The next coin leads us from the desert right into the heart of Spain, where even today bullfights constitute an essential part of the national identity for many Spaniards. In the 20s, this spectacle attracted many foreigners. When Ernest Hemingway memorialized the bullfight in his 1926 publication “Fiesta”, a huge bullfighting arena was being erected in Madrid: Las Ventas. After 10 years of construction work, it opened in 1934. The arena can host more than 23,000 spectators, who today do not only come to see bullfights, but also concerts or tennis tournaments.
Coin “Golden Gate Bridge”. Palau/ 5 Dollars/ Silver .925/ 20 g/ 38.61 mm/ Mintage: 2500 pieces. © Coin Invest Trust.
The third coin takes us to the Californian coast, to San Francisco, and one of the most iconic man-made structures in the USA: the Golden Gate Bridge. The red paint was originally a mere side effect of rust proofing the bridge, but the people loved it. Today the red colour is the bridges trademark feature. For decades, the Golden Gate Bridge held the record as longest suspension bridge worldwide, with a length of 2737 m. And that isn’t the only record: the Golden Gate once had the highest columns, the longest and thickest cables, and the largest foundations. Although other bridges today have surpassed the Golden Gate in all of those aspects, few surpass its beauty.
Coin “Parliament Hill”. Palau/ 5 Dollars/ Silver .925/ 20 g/ 38.61 mm/ Mintage: 2500 pieces. © Coin Invest Trust.
The final stop on our journey today is the Canadian capital, Ottawa. In 1859, Queen Victoria turned the former military barracks, protecting the English colony, into the new capital’s seat of government. When strolling amidst the neo-Gothic buildings, you can still feel the atmosphere of the distinctively English architecture. 3 million people visit the metropolis every year.
If you haven’t seen enough on this trip around the world, don’t worry: this certainly wasn’t the last stop …
CoinsWeekly has previously reported on other coins from this series.
In this issue you will find, among others, the Brandenburg Gate, the Hagia Sophia or the Church of the Savior on Blood in St Petersburg.
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