World’s First Pyramid Coin Issued

By CoinLink on Thursday, December 6, 2007
Filed Under: Just Released - New Coins, World Coins

Isle of Man Pyramid Coin The world’s first triangular coin will be unveiled today to mark the return of Tutankhamun’s treasures to London.

The coin, representing a pyramid, is part of a series which depicts the artefacts unearthed in the young pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings by English archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922.

It features the coffinette which contained the boy king’s mummified internal organs.

The Isle of Man government will issue the coins to coincide with the current Tutankhamun touring exhibition at the O2 Arena — which has returned to London for the first time in 30 years. The pyramid-shaped copper coin will be worth 25p and is legal tender on the Isle of Man.

John Smith, the general manager of Pobjoy Mint, which is striking the coins, said he was “delighted to launch the first ever pyramid coin”. Mr Smith added that no limit had been set on the number of coins that could be produced.

The island has two connections to ancient Egypt — its Triskelion symbol and Mr Carter’s nephew Maurice, who lives there.

The ancient Celtic symbol consists of three interlocked spirals, related to the sun, afterlife and reincarnation. The Egyptians believed the sun descended into the netherworld after it set and travelled through the night before it rose again. They also believed the death of a person mirrored this night journey. This led to mummification in order to protect the deceased on their way to the afterlife.

The coins will be launched today at the base of manufacturers Pobjoy Mint, in Kingswood, Surrey.