New Zealand- 2021 - Silver Proof Coin Set - Tangaroa - Guardian of the Ocean

Description

Tangaroa is a deity described in Māori traditions as the kaitiaki (guardian) of all oceans and waters. He is one of the children of
Ranginui
(the sky father) and
Papatūānuku
(the earth mother), from whom life originates. Among various accounts throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, Tangaroa is identified as the father of sea creatures. In some traditions, the sea is thought to be where all life originated. In traditional carvings, Māori ancestors can resemble amphibians - animals that can live on both land and water - with snake-like bodies and large heads.
Highlights
The first set of
silver coins in a new series exploring atua, Māori gods.
Minted from 0.999
silver
Detailed design by Māori designer Dave Hakaraia
Low worldwide mintage of
4
00
Presented in an elegant display case with a certificate of authenticity.
T
he pūhoro motif that surrounds Tangaroa
makes reference
to his ability to control the tides and waves, as well as his strength and power as guardian of the seas and waterways. The
pūhoro
design traditionally refers to speed and agility, depicting the cutting or rippling effect of the water or waves when a waka (canoe)
travels
. The
pūhoro
design is often used to adorn the prows of waka. The sea creatures within the design represent the many stories, traditions and lineage of Tangaroa, including the
tohora
or whale. Whales are viewed as the guardians of navigators. According to Māori oral tradition, whales guided canoes to New Zealand, and the ancestor Paikea is said to have arrived riding a whale.
Denomination:
Two x one New Zealand dollar
Composition:
0.999 silver
Weight:
Two x 1oz
Diameter:
40mm
Edge treatment:
Milled
Obverse design:
Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, United Kingdom
Shape:
Round
Reverse design:
Coin 1: Tangaroa Coin 2: tohora/whale
Designed by:
KE Design, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand
Worldwide mintage limit:
400
Mint:
B.H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH