Silver coin 2 Oz Knights Templar

A two-ounce silver coin featuring the Knights Templar is a unique work of art and a technical marvel, as well as a collector’s rarity.

The medieval knight was the ideal of manhood, a fearless warrior, a self-sacrificing protector, and a God-fearing believer. Who else could have wrested the Holy Land from the clutches of the Saracens? Who else would have cared for the multitudes of defenseless Christians making their pilgrimage to the birthplace of Christ? Small brotherhoods of determined warriors, operating far from home, gradually grew into organized communities, and thus the first orders of knights were formed. At first, they were modest and devoted to the knightly virtues, but before long their fame eclipsed that of many a ruler. The most famous of these orders was the mysterious Knights Templar, who, by providing banking services, amassed immense wealth. Along with this wealth, they also gained influence while remaining independent and accountable only to the Pope. However, the Templars’ growing power aroused envy and fear and ultimately led to their downfall. To rid himself of dangerous rivals and seize their wealth, King Philip IV of France, known as “the Fair,” hatched a deadly conspiracy. With the permission of Pope Clement V, the Knights Templar were arrested en masse and accused of heresy, idolatry, and perverse rituals. They were forced to confess under cruel torture, and their punishment was death by burning. Even the Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, perished in the flames, but before doing so, he cursed the treacherous king and the pope and summoned them to God’s judgment. Both indeed died within a single year. The legend of the Templars, however, survived. Some knights managed to escape, and what’s more, the Templars’ treasures vanished and were never found…

The reverse side of the coin is dedicated to the sacred knighting ceremony, when a warrior becomes a member of the Templar brotherhood. While one superior of the Order places a sword on the knight’s shoulder, another recites the oath. Two Templars in full armor serve as witnesses to the event. All of this is rendered in high relief, accentuated by patina, coloring, and selective gilding. The richly decorated obverse side is dedicated to the essential attributes of the coin’s issuer, the island of Niue. Therefore, it bears its national coat of arms, the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue 2026.

The mintage of this coin by T&S Coin is limited to just 500 pieces.