2022 Games Through The Ages 2oz .9999 Silver Antiqued Coin

Games were played by ancient civilisations as competitive recreation and represent one of humanity’s oldest forms of social interaction. Evidence for the existence of dice as throwable cubes with numbered sides indicates they were made in Egypt at least as early as 2000 BCE. The first known board game, The Royal Game of Ur, originated around 4,600 years ago in Mesopotamia. By the beginning of the 10th century, playing cards had been invented in China.

Many traditional games, which have their roots in days long gone, have stood the test of time. Despite modern electronic alternatives, they offer entertaining group activities strongly associated with joyous times, including Christmas and summer vacations. Enjoyed by children and regarded with fondness by older generations, they continue to inspire happy and memorable family occasions. Firmly ingrained in our cultural practices while helping to develop mental agility and strategic thinking, old-style games are inexpensive, easy to master, and above all, fun.

Struck by The Perth Mint from 2oz of 99.99% pure silver, the coin is issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu.

The Perth Mint will release no more than 2,500 of the Games Through The Ages 2022 2oz Silver Antiqued Coin.

DESIGN

The coin portrays game-related motifs within a ring of circles. Clockwise from the top, they symbolise playing cards, dominoes, a spinning dice, chess, snakes and ladders, terni lapilli, mahjong, draughts (or checkers), knucklebones, backgammon, and dice. Also included on the reverse is a background pattern and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

The coin’s centre features a 24-carat plated stainless steel insert representing noughts and crosses, also known as tic tac toe, a ‘three-in-a-row’ game believed to have evolved from the ancient Roman game of terni lapilli (three pebbles).

The coin’s obverse portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Also on the obverse is a stylised circular pattern and inscriptions of the coin’s weight, purity, monetary denomination and year-date.

This coin has been ‘antiqued’ by hand to give it a unique finish conveying the surface abrasions of an aged artefact. As a result of this treatment, the appearance of other coins in the limited mintage may vary.

PRESENTATION

The coin is housed in a classic display case with a clear lid. Packaged within an illustrated shipper, each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Technical Specifications

ABOUT THE PERTH MINT

Established on 20 June 1899, two years before Australia’s Federation in 1901, The Perth Mint was the last of three Australian colonial branches of the United Kingdom ‘s Royal Mint (after the now-defunct Sydney Mint and Melbourne Mint) intended to refine gold from the gold rushes and to mint gold sovereigns and half-sovereigns for the British Empire. Swan Bullion Company is proud to be an authorised distributor for The Perth Mint’s bullion and numismatic products.