Palau – 2016 – 10 Dollars – Hand of Fatima (incl box) (BU)

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Category:

Description

Metal: Silver .999
Weight: 2 oz
Dimension: 38.51 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 999 pcs


Available ex stock starting september 2016.

This gorgeous 2 Oz Silver Coin is dedicated to the most popular amulet throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the Hand of Fatima or Hamsa Hand. The coin features a blue Swarovski Crystal that represents the eye-in-hand for magical protection from the evil eye, is minted with Smartminting technology and has unbelievable high relief and details. Limited mintage to only 999 pcs worldwide

The hamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular apotropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The words hamsa and hamesh mean five and refer to the digits on the hand. An alternative Islamic name for this charm is the Hand of Fatima, in reference to the daughter of Mohammed. An alternative Jewish name for it is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to the sister of Moses and Aaron. The hamsa hand appears both in a two-thumbed, bilaterally symmetrical form, as shown, and in a more natural form in which there is only one thumb. There is good archaeological evidence to suggest that the downward-pointing protective hamesh / hamsa hand predates both Judaism and Islam and that it refers to an ancient Middle Eastern goddess whose hand (or vulva, in other images) wards off the evil eye. Although most hamsa hands are amulets, modern Israeli hamesh hands are sometimes made in the form of ceramic wall plaques in which a hand-lettered Hebrew prayer occupies the center of the palm. These include variants that seek to prevent earthquakes as well as forestall overlooking by the evil eye. Hamsa hand plaques, usually made of turquoise-glazed pottery, are also found in modern Egypt. I don’t have one to show you here, but they resemble other anti-evil-eye plaques from Egypt, such as one in my collection with a blue horseshoe for luck and blue beads for magical protection from the evil eye.