GALILEO GALILEI 450th Anniversary Signature Swarovski 1 Kg Kilo Silver Coin 20$ Fiji 2014

The reverse of the coin is inspired by the Flammarion Engraving firstly documented in the book "The Atmosphere: Popular Meteorology" written by the famous author and astronomer Camille Flammarion in 1888. Flammarion describes the engraving using the words "a missionary of the Middle Ages tells that he had found the point where the sky and the earth touch." Thereby he contrasts the medieval world view of a flat earth with the researches of Galileo Galilei. Symbolizing the great discover of Galileo the coin's reverse features the heliocentric and medieval world picture with round and star-shaped Swarovski crystals in front of a blue metallic colored sky and luminaries with 24 carat Gold plating. The artistically designed obverse of the issuing country illustrates our solar system together with the coat of arms of the issuing country Fiji. Galileo's famous words "Where the senses fail us, reason must step in" are engraved on the edge of the coin and make this coin even more to an artistic masterpiece.