Dangerous Way – The Quiet Strength of a Careful Step

A small snail carries a surprisingly large lesson. Dangerous Way, Mint Club #10, brings an emblem from George Wither’s 1635 A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne to a 2 troy ounce .999 fine silver round. Its subject is perseverance guided by judgment.

A Lesson from Book I

“When Thou a Dangerous-Way does go, Walk surely though thy pace be slow.”

The source appears as Illustration XIX in Book I. Wither’s verse warns against overconfidence and the rash pursuit of a goal, then asks readers to consider the slow-moving snail. The lesson is not to abandon ambition, but to approach difficult ground with enough care to finish the journey.

That combination of a memorable image and a moral explanation is characteristic of the emblem-book form. A picture invites curiosity; a motto offers a clue; the accompanying poem develops its meaning. Wither’s English verses gave readers a way to reflect on the engraved scenes, and the silver design offers the same invitation through relief and detail.

Obverse Design

A village stands to the right of a mountainside in the background. In the foreground, a snail negotiates a narrow bridge. The change in scale places attention on the small traveler and its uncertain passage rather than on a grand heroic figure.

The bridge gives the motto a concrete setting. A cautious pace becomes a strength when a careless move could end the crossing. For collectors drawn to allegory, the design combines gentle humor with a message about patience, attention and steady progress.

Mint Club Reverse and Specifications

A spread-winged eagle beneath a crown holds a flowing ribbon against a diamond-patterned field. LIMITED MINTAGE and MINT CLUB surround the reverse, which records a total mintage of 500 and the TWO TROY OUNCES .999 FINE SILVER hallmark.

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: Approximately 6mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
• Total mintage: 500

View and save the Certificate of Authenticity.

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.