Silver 1/2 oz Aztec Calendar Round

1/2 oz Silver Aztec Calendar Round

Golden State Mint is extremely pleased to present this stunning 1/2 oz Silver Aztec Calendar Round. This remarkably detailed design is an amazing representation of Aztec culture and history that will most certainly be a welcome addition to any collection!

Highlights

• 1/2 oz Silver Aztec Calendar Round.
• Contains 1/2 Troy ounce of .999 fine silver.
• Obverse: features the historic Aztec Calendar stone.
• Reverse: displays Cuauhtémoc, the final Emperor of Tenochtitlan, an Aztec‑style border, and the inscriptions "HALF TROY OUNCE," ".999 FINE SILVER," and "CUAUHTÉMOC."
• Produced by Golden State Mint.
• Round carries no face value and is not legal tender.

Antiquities of Time

The Aztec Calendar stone is one of the most incredibly well-preserved relics of the Aztec Empire. Generally considered to have been chiseled in the early 1500's, it's intricate design is actually much more than tribal artwork of the period. It is a highly structured accounting of the cycles of time as perceived by these ancients.

Although the Aztec Calendar stone is not the only such calendar to represent this interwoven combination of cycles, it certainly has been a primary focus of much advanced study. These critical studies of attempts to understand the relationship of each of the series of numbers and symbols are actually quite fascinating!

The size of the Calendar stone is quite massive, with a diameter of 12 feet, 3 feet thick, and weighing 24 tons. The stone was rediscovered in 1790, and publicly displayed upon Mexico Cathedral in 1850. Being intricately tied to Mexican history, the stone is now part of the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City.

Remarkably Stunning Detail

The obverse displays the Aztec Calendar stone with remarkable detail. It's focal point is the circular inset that represents the sun, or Tonatiuh, the solar deity. The presence of Tonatiuh has also given rise to the alternate name of the stone, the Sun Stone. In each of its claws is grasped a human heart, and out of its mouth extends a sacrificial knife of stone. Each element of the Calendar stone is meticulously placed to provide an ordered structure of the measurement of the calendar's cycles of time.

The reverse displays a very powerful depiction of Cuauhtémoc, final Emperor of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. His name means "descending eagle." Upon the conquest of the Spaniards over the Aztec Empire, Cuauhtémoc was executed in 1525.

To this day, his likeness is still displayed on Mexican banknotes and represented throughout popular culture as an icon. Encircling his image are the inscriptions "HALF TROY OUNCE .999 FINE SILVER." Directly under his image is displayed "CUAUHTÉMOC." At the rim is a distinctive Aztec-style decorative border.

Interested in learning more about the Aztec Calendar stone? Check out this very intriguing Wikipedia site! Aztec Calendar. Then, when your new rounds arrive, make it a teachable moment with your kids. Never miss an opportunity to get your children involved!