In 2000 to celebrate the Millennium, the Royal Mint on behalf of Cyprus released a very Limited Issue Millennium £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The obverse is the emblem of the Republic of Cyprus the word "Cyprus" in Greek, English and Turkish. Celebrating the arrival of the new Millennium, Cyprus, birthplace of Aphrodite and playground of the gods, reflects on its rich and tumultuous history with an unusually shaped coin resembling a miniature masterpiece of ancient Greek sculpture.
Based on the talent, an early monetary unit, the coin recalls the vital discovery of significant copper deposits, a find that heralded the Bronze Age, and brought with it tremendous wealth, thereby enriching the island with magnificent monuments, treasures and antiquities. Today modern cosmopolitan Cyprus sits comfortably side by side with a civilisation 9000 years old. These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.
