2027 Calendar Medal in Gold

The Guardian of Sleep

Selene is usually depicted with a crescent moon above her forehead and a torch in her hand. She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and the sister of Helios (the Sun) and Eos (the Dawn). Every day, after Helios had navigated the sun-chariot across the sky and it grew dark, Selene would follow her brother’s path. Later, Selene – also known as Phoibe – came to be identified with the moon goddess Artemis (known to the Romans as Diana) and with Persephone.

Selene bore Zeus Pandia (Light), Ersa (Dew) and Nemea (a nymph). Furthermore, she is said to have given birth to – or at least raised – the invulnerable Nemean lion. Another tale tells how Pan, the love-struck god of shepherds, seduced her in the woods, wrapped in a beautiful white fleece.

Selene was particularly fond of young Endymion, whom some mythologists regard as the king of Elis, while others describe him as a shepherd on Mount Latmos. She would kneel down beside him as he slept in a cave, and she would watch over him in silence; only once she took her leave would she breathe a kiss on his lips. According to another account, their love was not quite as chaste: she is said to have had 50 daughters by him. This number was not, by any means, chosen at random: it relates to the 50 months between two Olympic Games.

The Coin Designs

The obverse depicts Selene with her attributes: a crescent moon above her forehead, and in one hand a staff bearing a crescent moon.

On the left, you can see the part of the calendar ring that shows the sign of Cancer represented by a crab, and to the right, behind Selene, the star sign of Cancer can be seen in the sky.

The reverse side features an image of a crab in the centre. Around this, the inner circle lists all the Sundays in 2027, whilst the outer circle lists all the public holidays.

The 2027 Calendar Medal – a good-luck charm and a wonderful New Year’s gift – is available in silver, gold-plated silver, gold and bronze.