A long lost culture from Southern Russia & Ukraine

From the 7th to the 3rd century BC, the Scythians populated the steppes in what is now southern Russia and Ukraine. Their life was based on mobility; with their sheep and horses they moved from grazing area to grazing area. What remains of this long-dead culture are magnificent burial sites rich in gold, which are called kurgans in the Eurasian steppes. Since the 19th century, archaeology has been able to examine several monumental burial mounds. The burial robes of Scythian princes were decorated with hundreds of sewn-on gold plates. Women's veils and hoods also had such ornaments. These pieces, pressed from gold foil, were often figurally decorated, mainly with elements of the so-called animal style. The stylized animals were believed to have supernatural powers. Likewise, quivers made of thick gold foil, dagger handles and scabbards, ornamental scabbards of wooden shields or scepter handles were found. Solid gold was also used for neck rings and bracelets.

Gold as far as the eye can see

The coin brings to life this almost forgotten nomadic culture. It shows the Scythians' talent for exalting wild animals and their extraordinary sense of beauty, awakened and nourished by the magical glitter of an eternally precious material: gold.In the center of the obverse is a free-form portrait of a Scythian horseman galloping into the coin's image from the right. The rider and horse are partially covered by an ornamental band. In another ornamental band - it can be seen in the background - a cauldron, a plow and an axe are integrated. The other side shows as main motif a golden showpiece probably from later Scythian times, depicting an animal fighting scene. The original is in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and comes from the collection of Tsar Peter I.

Text courtesy of Austrian Mint.