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2 Dollars - Elizabeth II Battle of Marathon
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
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| Value | 2 Dollars |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts the Athenian strategos Miltiades as the dominant foreground figure, shown in full military attire with helmet, shield, and spear, rendered in high relief with applied color highlighting. Behind him, an intricately engraved background scene portrays massed Greek hoplites and Persian warriors locked in close-quarters combat at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, with fine line-work evoking the style of antique Greek vase painting. The inscription MARATHON is arched across the upper field, with the date 490 BC positioned below, separated by raised dots. The antiqued silver finish unifies the foreground and background elements, reinforcing the ancient historical subject matter. |
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| Additional information |
The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC carries an outsized place in Western historiography partly because of Herodotus and partly because the Athenian victory genuinely did halt the first Persian invasion before it reached the city. What is less often noted is that the Athenians fought without Spartan support — the Spartans were observing a religious festival and arrived only after the battle was over. The Plataeans were the sole allied contingent present.
Niue has issued silver bullion commemoratives under licensing arrangements since the 1990s, with this Marathon piece falling within a broader ancient battles series produced for the collector market rather than circulation.