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Pobjoy Issues Holiday Coin
 | By World Coin News
December 08, 2008 |
Pobjoy Mint has kicked off the holiday season by issuing a Christmas coin on behalf of the Isle of Man Treasury. The reverse of the 50-pence coin depicts four calling birds, borrowed from a verse of the popular carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
The obverse bears the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. The coin is the fourth in Pobjoy's Christmas series marking each of the 12 days.
The tradition of celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, starting on Dec. 25 through to the morning of Epiphany on Jan. 6, is based on a sequence of verses in the Bible and the belief that the Three Kings took 12 days to travel to Bethlehem after first seeing the Jesus Star.
It was also medieval tradition to celebrate 12 days for Christmas, starting on Christmas day with the Yule log being dragged in on Christmas Eve and kept alight for 12 days. It was thought to be bad luck if the log went out within the 12 days. In the English Christmas carol, the four calling birds refer to the four Bible gospels.
The cupronickel with diamond finish version of the coin has an issue limit of 30,000, the proof sterling silver version has a limit of 5,000 and the proof 22 karat gold is capped at 250. All versions are 27.30 mm in diameter and weigh 8 grams.
The cupronickel and silver coins come presented in a Christmas card and are available in colorized versions. The gold coin comes in a presentation box.
To learn more or place an order, visit Pobjoy on the Web at www.pobjoy.com.
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