Dog Blog Olympic Coins ‘lapsus alumni’!

The London 2012 Olympic coin collection.

Shocking news has just come in informing me that the ‘Royal Mint’ has snubbed the Greeks gods. The special Olympic coin collection features the Olympic rings, events and classical Roman gods with the motto of Citius, Altius and Fortius, (faster, higher and stronger). For faster the gods selected are Neptune god of the sea, associated with sailing, Mercury the messenger , associated with runners  and Mars the god of war with boxers. So far not too bad I hear you say. For higher Juno herself has been used, but why the patron goddess of Rome and protector of women was selected and with the pole vault is quite bizarre. Minerva the goddess of wisdom is chosen in the stronger category with a picture of a javelin thrower. As a goddess she was most closely associated with wisdom, poetry, and medicine but nothing relating to strength or throwing things apart from maybe the odd hissy fit. Lastly strength is also represented by Vulcan god of fire who was lame in one foot, hardly appropriate for the Olympics. A large thunder bolt was seen over the ‘Royal Mint’ followed by a loud clap of thunder and a deluge, the rest of London experienced a nice sunny day.