Tanzania – 2022 – 1000 Shillings – Hydra Mythical Animals

Description

The ‘Hydra’ coin is the fourth issue in the ‘Mythical Creatures’ series. Using the enhanced Smartminting©️ technology makes the relief as previous only possible on piedforts (2oz) blanks. It is struck on a 1 oz pure silver 38.61mm blank in the highest PROOF quality. It has a limited mintage of only 499 pcs worldwide and comes in a beautiful box with a certificate of authenticity. This coin fits perfect in a mythology collection.

Coin description

The coin’s reverse depicts a mythical many headed serpentine water monster also known as (Lernaean) Hydra with its deadly appearance. Many heads on strong necks connected to its body. On the reverse are also the inscriptions ‘HYDRA’ (name of the coin) and ‘2022’ (the year of issue).

The coin’s obverse side depicts the standard Tanzania coat of arms. With the inscriptions: “TANZANIA” (the issuing country) and “1000 SHILLINGS” (the face value).

Background information

The Lernaean Hydra (or just Hydra) is one of the most well-known creatures in Roman-Greek mythology. It’s a serpentine water monster with many heads of which the total amount varies per story. According to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, the Hydra was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. It was the Greek divine hero Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology), the son of Zeus, who defeated the Lernaean Hydra by cutting off all its heads. The Hydra throughout historical texts always had a poisonous breath and blood but the regrowing of the heads is something of more modern literature. Similar stories of the Lernaean Hydra exist around the world from east to west.