Ancient Sea Monster – Rider Series 2 Troy Ounce Silver Round

A helmeted rider, a raised trident, and a fantastic mount turn the sea into a stage for adventure. This artist’s original in Intaglio Mint’s Rider Series takes inspiration from illustrations of ancient sea monsters, presenting the subject in high relief with a domed form. Two troy ounces of .999 fine silver give the imagined encounter a substantial presence.

Creatures from the Ancient Imagination

Ancient artists populated the sea with far more than ordinary fish. Fantastic creatures could combine recognizable animal forms into something strange and powerful, giving shape to the mystery of the waters beyond the shore. The Greek ketos, or sea monster, appears in surviving objects ranging from vessels to sculptural reliefs.

Riders were part of that visual world, too. The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves a Greek terracotta relief of a lyre-carrying youth on a sea creature, as well as a dish from ancient Gandhara showing a Nereid riding a sea monster. Such works reveal how widely the idea of a fantastic marine mount could travel.

This modern design draws on that imaginative tradition without claiming to reproduce a particular ancient artifact or named myth. The helmet, cape, shield, and trident suggest a rider equipped for a journey through a realm of powerful creatures. The high-relief treatment and dome emphasize the sculptural character of the scene.

Obverse Design

A rider wearing a helmet and cape sits on the back of an ancient sea monster. A shield is held in the left hand and a trident in the right, establishing the armed figure against the creature beneath.

Reverse Design

A large Intaglio Mint logo occupies the center of a plain border. “TWO TROY OUNCES” appears above and “.999 FINE SILVER” below, flanked by stars.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.00 troy ounces
• Thickness: Approximately 6 mm
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Edge: Reeded
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
• Presentation: High relief with a domed form

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