The artist Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré was born in Strasbourg in 1832, and began his lifelong career as an illustrator at a young age. Although he created several acclaimed paintings, the wood engraving was arguably his primary medium. One of his most celebrated achievements was his lengthy series of engravings treating events in the Bible, a series of more than two hundred and forty works that was completed in 1866. These images inspired a popular series of bullion collectibles from the Scottsdale Mint; first issued in 2015, the Biblical Series based on Doré’s works has grown in popularity with each new issue. The latest is the 2022 2 oz The Dead Christ Biblical Silver Coin now available from JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships individually housed in a card and packaged in a Biblically-patterned gift box!
- Issued in 2022, latest in the Scottsdale Mint Biblical series!
- Limited mintage of only 1,499 pieces!
- Contains 2 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
- Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity with an accompanying Biblical passage.
- Face value of $2 (NZD) as legal tender of Niue.
- Obverse features Raphael Maklouf’s likeness of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Reverse features a reproduction of one of Gustave Doré’s famous Bible engravings.
In drawing on Gustave Doré’s engravings for inspiration, the creative team at the Scottsdale Mint wasn’t confined to simply replicating the originals on the face of their coins. Instead, they remained true to the spirit of the original artworks while adapting the specific details as they rendered each scene into the medium of high-relief and antique-finished medallic artwork.
The 2022 The Dead Christ Biblical Silver Coin is a perfect example, featuring a beautifully antiqued rimless design that shows one of Doré’s famous Biblical scenes on its reverse. These coins ship individually housed in a card with an assay certificate, packaged in turn inside a gift box designed to resemble a Bible. Each coin comes with a Certificate of Authenticity printed on antique-styled paper, along with a passage from the Gospel of John; the serial number on the Certificate is matched by a laser-etched number on the coin’s edge.
The coin’s obverse side features Raphael Maklouf’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, confirming it as legal tender of Niue. This is accompanied by the inscriptions “QUEEN ELIZABETH II,” “NIUE,” “TWO DOLLARS,” “2022,” and verification of its weight and silver contents.
The reverse side features an interpretation of Doré’s engraving showing a small group of Jesus Christ’s followers mourning his death on the cross. This is accompanied by the inscription “THE DEAD CHRIST.”
For more information about buying silver, contact the team at JM Bullion. You can reach us at our online live chat, send inquiries through e-mail, or call us at 800-276-6508.