It is estimated that there are more than 2 million cities in the world. Do you know which cities that existed centuries ago were important, powerful, and magnificent? Some of them have disappeared mysteriously, leaving only history, legends, and extraordinary architecture. Such is the case of the famous Pompeii, whose tragedy is immortalized in the 3rd coin of the’Lost World Cities’ series. Just one day and the fate of a thriving city with a population of ca. 11,000 changed forever. In the autumn of 79 AD, one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in the history of the Old Continent took place – Vesuvius buried Pompeii and several other neighboring towns beneath a layer of molten rock, pumice and hot ash. The scale of the cataclysm is difficult to comprehend. Scientists estimate that the cloud of deadly gases and tephra spewed from the volcano was approx. 33 km high, the surrounding area was fired upon lava bombs at a rate of 1.5 million tonnes per second, and the thermal energy was nearly 100,000 times greater than the explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Roman historians wrote that the eruption instantly turned light into darkness, which dissipated only after a few days. The disaster was so sudden that the people in the area had no time to flee – the exact number of casualties is still unknown. The ash that brought death kept Pompeii a secret for almost 1,700 years until it was rediscovered in the 18th century. Today, it is a poignant reminder of the almighty power of nature and an invaluable historical site that offers a close-up view of ancient Roman civilization. The reverse of the’Pompeii’ collectible silver coin shows the tragedy, depicting the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on an unprepared city. The high relief is decorated with partial UV printing. It is surrounded by a typical Roman mosaic motif on both sides. The obverse features the public seal of Niue, the island’s symbol – katoua cleaving clubs, and the motto’atua Niue tukulagi’. Welcome to the Lithuanian Mint, a leading producer of high-quality collectible coins and medals. Combining expert craftsmanship with innovative design, we create unique pieces that celebrate culture, history, and artistry. Our coins are prized by collectors around the globe for their precision and beauty. Discover exceptional collectibles from the heart of Europe! Items are dispatched Monday through Friday. Items bought on weekends are dispatched on Mondays. We dispatch your items as soon as possible, but due to the many orders we receive, they could be dispatched within 2 workdays. We care about your satisfaction. We offer high-quality items at a very good price, but if they do not meet your expectations, you have 60 days to return them. To return items, they must not have been used. When filling out a return declaration form, be sure the data you enter is correct. And our Customer Service team will be happy to assist. We aim to reply to all messages within 24hrs (Mon – Fri).