Cook Islands – 2014 – 5 Dollars – History of Egypt SPHINX (incl box) (PROOF)

Description

Metal: Copper silverplated
Weight: 25 g
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 2’500 pcs.
The Sphinx of Giza is the largest Egyptian sculpture and was formed from a block of limestone, east of the Khafra Pyramid, in approximately 2500 BC.

The statue, standing over 70 metres long and 20 metres high, represents the bust of King Khafra on a lion. It also symbolizes the earthly shape of the sun god and is believed to protect the pyramids from evil spirits. The Sphinx stands in a trough, so that only its head is visible over the surrounding area. It was for this reason, that the Sphinx has been buried by wind-borne sand over past years. On closer examination it is discernible that its head is too small in relation to its body.

The most distinguishing feature of the Sphinx is the missing nose. Its destruction is attributed to a outraged iconoclast. The Sphinx also had a beard, which fell off long ago in ancient times. Parts of it are on display at the British Museum in London.