Ancient mythology on modern coins

[paisepagal]

Buddha of Long Men Caves
China

hmmm. Is Buddha seen as a god in east Asian practices ? As i understand, in east Asian practices, Buddhism merged with native practices and you have celestial beings, not unlike how it is here. But Gautam Buddha (and his earlier identity as Prince Siddharth) was never really regarded as a divine being

[SquareEarth]

hmmm. Is Buddha seen as a god in east Asian practices ? As i understand, in east Asian practices, Buddhism merged with native practices and you have celestial beings, not unlike how it is here. But Gautam Buddha (and his earlier identity as Prince Siddharth) was never really regarded as a divine being

Neither, but superstitious people treat him like a god.

[SquareEarth]

Gods of Fu, Lu, Shou (Happiness, Fortune and Longevity) unfolding a picture of Taiji
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Lu_Shou (Like almost all Taoist gods, they are celestial bodies)
China 500 Yuan 1993 "Taijitu"

[SquareEarth]

Nüwa, Chinese creator of Humanity, who also mended the sky (depicted below) when it collapsed during a battle.
China 500 yuan 1995 , Nüwabutian


Surely she used to be worshiped, but now she is more of a mythical figure than a goddess.

[SquareEarth]

Houyi Shooting down nine suns, and left the last on intact.
More careful designer would have depicted the suns as birds, according to the original myth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houyi

[SquareEarth]

King Dangun Wanggeom
North Korean 20 Won, 2007, 5000 years of Gojoseon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangun


His elevation into the position of "Ancestor of All Koreans" is a very recent phenomenon, a mere mountain god in Joseon Dynasty, he became an cultural icon post-independence together with Baekdu Mountain in both North and South.

A similar phenomenon was the Chinese Yellow Emperor, who came into existence during Warring States period ( or rather, changed from a god to a pseudo-historical figure), but accorded with disproportionate importance during early 20th century as the ancestor of all Chinese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Emperor

China 1990 Yellow Emperor 100 Yuan

[SquareEarth]

CHina 1995 10 Yuan Emperor Yao

Seen as example of rulers in the imperial days, he was in fact just another ancient deity historified in the Warring States Period.
This coin depicts him as the Divine Agriculturist, who tasted all plants in the world to tell the people what can be and what cannot be eaten. (Divine Agriculturist and Yao might have been two different myths jumbled up later)
He was later impressed into the Chinese pantheon again, as Taoist manager of heaven, as well as guardian deity of doctors and farmers.

[SquareEarth]

Matsu is a very recent deity, starting only from the Song dynasty, Patron for sea voyagers.
Matsu/Mazu China 1995 5 Yuan

[<k>]

Italy, 10 lire, 1946.  Pegasus / Olive branch.

[<k>]

Greece, 5 drachmai 1973.  Pegasus.

From Wikipedia:

Pegasus is a winged divine stallion usually depicted as pure white in colour. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing when his mother was decapitated by Perseus.

Greco-Roman poets write about his ascent to heaven after his birth and his obeisance to Zeus, king of the gods, who instructed him to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. Friend of the Muses, Pegasus is the creator of Hippocrene, the fountain on Mt. Helicon. He was captured by the Greek hero Bellerophon near the fountain Peirene with the help of Athena and Poseidon. Pegasus allows the hero to ride him to defeat a monster, the Chimera, before realizing many other exploits. His rider, however, falls off his back trying to reach Mount Olympus. Zeus transformed him into the constellation Pegasus and placed him up in the sky.

[<k>]

Greece, 5 drachmai, 1930.  The phoenix.

[chrisild]

Interesting that the Columbus coin from San Marino mixes two languages. Of course most of the text is in Italian, but his "Buscar el Levante por el Poniente" (seek the east by way of the west) is actually Spanish ...

Christian

[<k>]

Greece, 20 drachmai, 1973.  Selene the moon goddess.



Greece, 20 drachmai, 1965.  Selene the moon goddess.

[<k>]

Greece, 1 drachma, 1910.  Thetis, goddess of water.

[<k>]

Greece, 20 drachmai, Series B, 1973.  The goddess Athena.