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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’.
