- Memento Mori Coin Australia
- Memento Mori Coin Necklace
- Memento Mori Coin Daily Stoic
- Memento Mori Coin Ring
These 2 oz Memento Mori Silver Rounds are minted using two troy ounces of.999 fine silver (common in most silver bullion items) by the Intaglio Mint. The obverse of this Silver Round features a cracked human skull in the center surrounded by an ornate design that is beautifully minted. On the obverse of the 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Round is a dark depiction of life's fragile existence. There is a cracked human skull fixed to the center of the design with an ornate background field that includes a crowned skull at 12 o'clock ascending into heaving, and an hour glass at 6 o'clock reminding us that time is precious.
'Memento Mori': The Reminder We All Desperately Need
front, Wisdom, and More
'Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.'Seneca
At a Roman triumph, the majority of the public would have their eyes glued to the victorious general at the front—one of the most coveted spots during Roman times. Only a few would notice the aide in the back, right behind the commander, whispering into his ear, 'Remember, thou art mortal.' What a reminder to hear at the peak of glory and victory!
It is reminders like this one that we desperately need in our own lives—a thought or an idea that we'd rather ignore, do everything to avoid and pretend is not true. Most often, our ego runs away from anything that reminds us of the reality that sits at odds with the comfortable narrative we have build for ourselves. Or, we are simply petrified to look at life's facts as they are. And there is one simple fact that most of us are utterly scared to meditate, reflect on and face head on: We are going to die. Everyone around us is going to die.
Such reminders and exercises take part of Memento Mori—the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is 'about nothing else but dying and being dead.' In early Buddhist texts, a prominent term is maraṇasati, which translates as ‘remember death.' Some Sufis have been called the 'people of the graves,' because of their practice of frequenting graveyards to ponder on death and one's mortality.
Throughout history, Memento Mori reminders have come in many forms. Some, like the aide behind the general, were there to humble. Others were invented to inspire zest for life. The essayist Michel de Montaigne, for instance, was fond of an ancient Egyptian custom where during times of festivities, a skeleton would be brought out with people cheering 'Drink and be merry for when you're dead you will look like this.'
To us moderns this sounds like an awful idea. Who wants to think about death? But what if instead of being scared and unwilling to embrace this truth we did the opposite? What if reflecting and meditating on that fact was a simple key to living life to the fullest? Or that it was the key to our freedom—as Montaigne put it, 'To practice death is to practice freedom. A man who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave.'
In his Meditations—essentially his own private journal—Marcus Aurelius wrote that 'You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.' That was a personal reminder to continue living a life of virtue NOW, and not wait. The French painter Philippe de Champaigne expressed a similar sentiment in his painting Still Life with a Skull, which showed the three essentials of existence — the tulip (life), the skull (death), and the hourglass (time). The original painting is part of a genre referred to as Vanitas, a form of 17th century artwork featuring symbols of mortality which encourage reflection on the meaning and fleetingness of life.
Meditating on your mortality is only depressing if you miss the point. It is in fact a tool to create priority and meaning. It's a tool that generations have used to create real perspective and urgency. To treat our time as a gift and not waste it on the trivial and vain. Death doesn't make life pointless but rather purposeful. And fortunately, we don't have to nearly die to tap into this. A simple reminder can bring us closer to living the life we want. It doesn't matter who you are or how many things you have left to be done, a car can hit you in an intersection and drive your teeth back into your skull. That's it. It could all be over. Today, tomorrow, someday soon.
The Stoic finds this thought invigorating and humbling. It is not surprising that one of Seneca's biographies is titled Dying Every Day. After all, it is Seneca who urged us to tell ourselves 'You may not wake up tomorrow,' when going to bed and 'You may not sleep again,' when waking up as reminders of our mortality. Or as another Stoic, Epictetus, urged his students: 'Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible— by doing so, you'll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.' Use those reminders and meditate on them daily—let them be the building blocks of living your life to the fullest and not wasting a second.
The Memento Mori Coin
We are excited to announce that the Daily Stoic is now releasing its own Memento Mori—'remember that you will die'—medallion as a physical manifestation for you to carry with everywhere.
Each coin is handcrafted in the United States by a custom mint operating in Minnesota since 1882. The same mint where the iconic AA anniversary medallions were created in 1973 by Bill Westman, an employee. Westman wanted to create something to leave with people he interacted with in recovery groups and to mark their achievements in sobriety. To remind them of the messages of AA and help keep them on their road to recovery. Westman's advice was 'carry this in your pocket or purse and when temptation is great, reach into your pocket and feel the medallion and remember your struggle to get this far.'
Read More
Memento Mori Tattoos & Inspiration – We reached out to readers to find out how they are remembering mortality through permanent body ink. Below is a collection of some Memento Mori tattoos and the stories behind them.
Memento Mori Coin Australia
History of Memento Mori – In this article, we'll explore the history of this seemingly haunting, but actually inspiring, phrase as well as where it came from and what it means. We'll show you how it has evolved through its many forms of practice and interpretation in literature, art, fashion, and present day popular culture
The phrase 'Memento Mori' is a popular Medieval Latin Christian theory that prompts one to reflect on mortality, especially in the face of arrogance and vanity in the earthly world. To some Roman generals, it is said this reminder was particularly applicable. In the new Latin Allure Series, Intaglio Mint brings a stunning design to illustrate this life lesson. Today, 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Rounds are available to you online at Silver.com.
Round Highlights:
- Ships to you in a protective plastic flip!
- First design in the Latin Allure Series!
- Consists of Two Troy ounces of .999 fine silver.
- Obverse bears a human skull surrounded by the phrase 'Memento Mori.'
- Reverse features an apocalyptic rider with the popular phrase 'Carpe Diem.'
From Intaglio Mint, the new Latin Allure Series starts with a reminder that all life is fleeting, even for the seemingly invincible. Combining the phrase 'Memento mori' and 'Carpe Diem,' the designs on the new 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Round remind us all that life is fragile and none can escape the grip of death.
'Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.'Seneca
At a Roman triumph, the majority of the public would have their eyes glued to the victorious general at the front—one of the most coveted spots during Roman times. Only a few would notice the aide in the back, right behind the commander, whispering into his ear, 'Remember, thou art mortal.' What a reminder to hear at the peak of glory and victory!
It is reminders like this one that we desperately need in our own lives—a thought or an idea that we'd rather ignore, do everything to avoid and pretend is not true. Most often, our ego runs away from anything that reminds us of the reality that sits at odds with the comfortable narrative we have build for ourselves. Or, we are simply petrified to look at life's facts as they are. And there is one simple fact that most of us are utterly scared to meditate, reflect on and face head on: We are going to die. Everyone around us is going to die.
Such reminders and exercises take part of Memento Mori—the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is 'about nothing else but dying and being dead.' In early Buddhist texts, a prominent term is maraṇasati, which translates as ‘remember death.' Some Sufis have been called the 'people of the graves,' because of their practice of frequenting graveyards to ponder on death and one's mortality.
Throughout history, Memento Mori reminders have come in many forms. Some, like the aide behind the general, were there to humble. Others were invented to inspire zest for life. The essayist Michel de Montaigne, for instance, was fond of an ancient Egyptian custom where during times of festivities, a skeleton would be brought out with people cheering 'Drink and be merry for when you're dead you will look like this.'
To us moderns this sounds like an awful idea. Who wants to think about death? But what if instead of being scared and unwilling to embrace this truth we did the opposite? What if reflecting and meditating on that fact was a simple key to living life to the fullest? Or that it was the key to our freedom—as Montaigne put it, 'To practice death is to practice freedom. A man who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave.'
In his Meditations—essentially his own private journal—Marcus Aurelius wrote that 'You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.' That was a personal reminder to continue living a life of virtue NOW, and not wait. The French painter Philippe de Champaigne expressed a similar sentiment in his painting Still Life with a Skull, which showed the three essentials of existence — the tulip (life), the skull (death), and the hourglass (time). The original painting is part of a genre referred to as Vanitas, a form of 17th century artwork featuring symbols of mortality which encourage reflection on the meaning and fleetingness of life.
Meditating on your mortality is only depressing if you miss the point. It is in fact a tool to create priority and meaning. It's a tool that generations have used to create real perspective and urgency. To treat our time as a gift and not waste it on the trivial and vain. Death doesn't make life pointless but rather purposeful. And fortunately, we don't have to nearly die to tap into this. A simple reminder can bring us closer to living the life we want. It doesn't matter who you are or how many things you have left to be done, a car can hit you in an intersection and drive your teeth back into your skull. That's it. It could all be over. Today, tomorrow, someday soon.
The Stoic finds this thought invigorating and humbling. It is not surprising that one of Seneca's biographies is titled Dying Every Day. After all, it is Seneca who urged us to tell ourselves 'You may not wake up tomorrow,' when going to bed and 'You may not sleep again,' when waking up as reminders of our mortality. Or as another Stoic, Epictetus, urged his students: 'Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible— by doing so, you'll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.' Use those reminders and meditate on them daily—let them be the building blocks of living your life to the fullest and not wasting a second.
The Memento Mori Coin
We are excited to announce that the Daily Stoic is now releasing its own Memento Mori—'remember that you will die'—medallion as a physical manifestation for you to carry with everywhere.
Each coin is handcrafted in the United States by a custom mint operating in Minnesota since 1882. The same mint where the iconic AA anniversary medallions were created in 1973 by Bill Westman, an employee. Westman wanted to create something to leave with people he interacted with in recovery groups and to mark their achievements in sobriety. To remind them of the messages of AA and help keep them on their road to recovery. Westman's advice was 'carry this in your pocket or purse and when temptation is great, reach into your pocket and feel the medallion and remember your struggle to get this far.'
Read More
Memento Mori Tattoos & Inspiration – We reached out to readers to find out how they are remembering mortality through permanent body ink. Below is a collection of some Memento Mori tattoos and the stories behind them.
Memento Mori Coin Australia
History of Memento Mori – In this article, we'll explore the history of this seemingly haunting, but actually inspiring, phrase as well as where it came from and what it means. We'll show you how it has evolved through its many forms of practice and interpretation in literature, art, fashion, and present day popular culture
The phrase 'Memento Mori' is a popular Medieval Latin Christian theory that prompts one to reflect on mortality, especially in the face of arrogance and vanity in the earthly world. To some Roman generals, it is said this reminder was particularly applicable. In the new Latin Allure Series, Intaglio Mint brings a stunning design to illustrate this life lesson. Today, 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Rounds are available to you online at Silver.com.
Round Highlights:
- Ships to you in a protective plastic flip!
- First design in the Latin Allure Series!
- Consists of Two Troy ounces of .999 fine silver.
- Obverse bears a human skull surrounded by the phrase 'Memento Mori.'
- Reverse features an apocalyptic rider with the popular phrase 'Carpe Diem.'
From Intaglio Mint, the new Latin Allure Series starts with a reminder that all life is fleeting, even for the seemingly invincible. Combining the phrase 'Memento mori' and 'Carpe Diem,' the designs on the new 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Round remind us all that life is fragile and none can escape the grip of death.
It is said that during the heights of Roman power, generals returning from campaigns or important battles with a victory in their pocket would parade around the city to celebrate the win. The accolades, congratulations, and love from the crowd would swell the heart and mind of the general, often resulting in an intense arrogance.
The phrase 'Memento mori' is Latin and is rumored to have been uttered to masters by slaves in a low voice to remind them that 'you too will die.' This brave act by a slave served as a reminder that even though the general was victorious this time, death comes for us all at some point.
Memento Mori Coin Necklace
On the obverse of the 2 oz Silver Memento Mori Round is a dark depiction of life's fragile existence. There is a cracked human skull fixed to the center of the design with an ornate background field that includes a crowned skull at 12 o'clock ascending into heaving, and an hour glass at 6 o'clock reminding us that time is precious. At 3 and 9 o'clock are extinguished candles and a dice rolled to seven.
The reverse of the Silver Memento Mori Rounds reminds all that death is coming, and encouraging all to seize the day with the well-known Latin phrase 'Carpe diem.' The apocalyptic skeleton rider is on his fearsome mount riding after unknown individuals with a spiked flail in hand ready to cut them down.
Memento Mori Coin Daily Stoic
Intaglio Mint is a small, boutique mint in Waco, Texas. Operated by just three men with a passion for silver, its rounds are some of the most impressive you'll find right now.
Memento Mori Coin Ring
Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions. You can reach Silver.com at 888-989-7223, chat with us live online, or simply email us.
