Settings Subscribe  

NumisTip

Australia Gods of Olympus

2014-P Proof Silver High Relief Two Dollar

Values

Sales History

Current listings

?

This Hades coin was released in 2014 as part of the Perth Mint's 'Gods of Olympus' series. The three coin series was struck in high relief with an antiqued finish. The reverse of this particular coin features Hades sitting on his throne of skull and bones with the three-headed dog Cerberus at his side. The design also includes the inscription 'HADES.' The obverse houses the Ian Rank-Broadly portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the legend 'QUEEN ELIZABETH II - 2OZ 999 SILVER - 2014 TUVALU - 2 DOLLARS.'

After the Gods of Olympus overthrew the Titans and Giants the three brothers - Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades - each became rulers of parts of the world. (Mark Cartwright, 2012) Zeus came to rule the sky, Poseidon the seas, while Hades become God of the Underworld. Assisted by his three-headed dog Cerberus Hades primary concern was ensuring that none of his subjects could escape his domain and return the land of the living. Unlike judeo-christian interpretations of the underworld and death Hades was not seen as evil but rather a stern leader concerned with retaining balance. Those who attempted to cheat death were severely punished by him. After a conflict with the gods Zeus ordered King Sisyphus be escorted to Tartarus by Thanatos, the personification of death. Sisyphus tricked Thanatos and trapped him in chains preventing Thanatos from continuing his job, stopping all death on earth. For cheating death Hades sentenced King Sisyphus to endlessly roll an enormous boulder up a steep hill for all eternity. (Mark Cartwright, 2016)