Ancient cities chose symbols for their coinage that represented the founding mythology, a pun on the city’s name, a characteristic feature of the economy or the city’s devotion to a particular deity. Ephesos, a Greek city on the west coast of present-day Turkey, used to be an important centre of worship for the Greek goddess Artemis. The motifs on the city’s coins, such as the bee, reflect this fact very clearly. Allegedly, the association between the bee and the goddess was so strong that the priestesses of Artemis were called “honey bees”.

Obverse

The obverse carries the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on it and is issued under the authority of the Cook Islands.

Packaging

Presented in a capsule in CIT’s minigold collector’s frame. A certificate of authenticity is enclosed.