Shield of Achilles Silver Stacker 2ozt Coin

The Shield of Achilles
In the battle between the great warrior Achilles and Prince Hector of Troy, Achilles' shield is described by Homer as a series of concentric circles starting with the center of the shield and working outward as the land, sea, air and constellations followed by cities with people and events including a court case, wedding and military siege followed by a field being plowed, a king's estate being harvested, a vineyard being picked, a herd of straight-horned cattle with a bull being attacked by lions and the herdsman fending it off, a sheep farm, men and women dancing and finally a great storm at sea. The final design is based upon the artistic interpretation of Angelo Monticelli from Le Costume Ancien ou Moderne in 1820.

Obverse

The shield of Achilles as described by Homer in The Iliad consisting of concentric circles containing the heavens and the earth, the constellations of the zodiac, and depictions of ancient life bordered by the ocean.

Reverse

Inverse for stacking

Edge

Plain

Numista Rarity index: 87