The Mermaid 1 oz Silver Round

Beneath the waves, beauty and danger share the same scene. Intaglio Mint’s Mermaid round places three mermaids among the remains of a shipwreck, with skulls and broken ship parts scattered below. The 1 troy ounce .999 fine silver design draws on the darker side of maritime folklore, where an inviting figure may conceal the sea’s perils.

Beauty and Danger in Maritime Folklore

The familiar mermaid combines a human upper body with a fish’s tail. Even the English name reflects that meeting of worlds: Royal Museums Greenwich traces it to the Old English word for sea, mere, joined with maid. Related water-being stories appear in many cultures, but their characters and meanings differ.

In sailors’ traditions, mermaids could represent good fortune or impending disaster. They also appeared as carved figureheads on ships, where their presence was associated with hopes for a safe voyage. The same figure that could promise protection might, in another tale, lure a sailor toward danger.

That tension makes the mermaid more than a decorative sea creature. This round’s wreckage and skulls give the scene a distinctly ominous tone, inviting the viewer to imagine the story behind the lost vessel. The artwork follows that dramatic tradition without presenting a single origin story as the source of all mermaid lore.

Design Details

Obverse: A central mermaid is joined by two additional mermaids, one on either side. A shipwreck fills the background, while skulls and pieces of the vessel lie in the foreground. “THE MERMAID” follows the upper circumference, naming the figure at the heart of this underwater tableau.

Reverse: A large Intaglio Mint logo is surrounded by a plain border reading “ONE TROY OUNCE” above and “.999 FINE SILVER” below, with stars at either side.

The 39 mm round has a reeded edge and Brilliant Uncirculated finish. It provides a richly composed maritime subject for collectors of legendary creatures and storytelling in silver.

Specifications

• Weight: 1.00 troy ounce
• Thickness: 3.10 mm
• Purity: .999 fine
• Edge: Reeded
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

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