The Chess Knight grips his lance and shield, and charges ahead on his armored warhorse on this one troy ounce pure silver gem with a proprietary black proof finish!

Truly rare! Tiny mintage of just 99! Yes, ninety-nine! The Chess King (first in the series) sold out quickly, so don't miss out, get it while you can!

Talisman World Coins and Medals is proud to bring you a knight in shining armor—the Chess Knight! Second in the Chess Precious Metals Program, and following hot on the heels of the sold out Chess King, the Chess Knight makes his entrance with a goal of creating chaos and wreaking havoc on the chess board. He does this through his unorthodox movement—one square horizontally then two vertically, or two vertically then one horizontally. Surprisingly, the Knight owns the oldest defined movement of any chess piece. His unconventional moves date back to the Indian game of chaturanga, in the 6th century AD, when the piece was first introduced, and have not changed since.

This absolutely superb design depicts a Knight riding his noble steed—don't call it a horsie! Charging ahead with lance in hand upon his armored warhorse, the Knight is ready to topple some hapless pawns, and maybe skewer a bishop while he's at it! The knight's shield features the checkered pattern of the chess board around its border, while the center displays the actual knight chess piece.

This legal tender masterpiece is a spectacular ode to one of the oldest and most universally played games on Earth, chess! Why is chess so globally popular? (Over 600 million people worldwide will play a game this year!) Because it’s the purest of pure strategy games—there is absolutely no luck, no chance, and no hidden information. It’s you versus your opponent, locked in head to head mortal combat.

Guarantee yourself a checkmate with a phenomenal fusion of features that includes one troy ounce pure precious metal content and spectacular detailed engraving, enhanced by the rich and luxurious pure platinum plating. With a tiny mintage of just 99 coins worldwide, coin collectors and fans of both chess and heraldry alike can compete to make the next move before time expires. Beautifully presented within a handsome presentation case and complete with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity, this sensational Chess Knight Pure Gold Proof is destined to occupy a place of pride in your noble collection!

The Game of Kings
Known as “the Game of Kings”, chess has a long and rich history, having evolved over time to reach the intricate masterwork of strategy we know today. The origins of chess can be traced back to central Asia more than 1500 years ago. A recognizable version of chess called chaturanga was played in India before 600 AD. Chess then spread to Persia, and thence to the Muslim world after the Islamic conquest of Persia in the 600s. Traveling west to Europe via the Silk Road, chess derives its Western name from the Persian word “shah” (king). The word checkmate is derived from the Persian “shah mat” (the king is dead).

The oldest known chess manual was in Arabic and dates to about 840 AD, titled Kitab ash-shatranj (The Book of Chess), written by al-Adli ar-Rumi (800–870 AD), a renowned Arab chess player. This manuscript is now lost, but is referenced in later works on chess. In Europe, the king became the largest piece, a reflection of its relative importance. Nonetheless, the king could move only one square per turn, albeit in any direction. Today, the popularity of chess continues unabated, with over 600 million people playing each year.

The Queen’s Gambit
Who would have thought that a TV show about chess, of all things, could make such a splash? Well, that’s exactly what The Queen’s Gambit did, becoming Netflix’s most watched original series ever upon its release in 2020. The show, starring actress Anya Taylor-Joy, traces the rise of an emotionally troubled, drug addicted savant from the obscurity of a rural Kentucky orphanage to the top of the chess world in the 1950s and 60s. The biggest twist? This savant is a woman, at a time when a female grandmaster was a true rarity! Just like the game of chess itself, The Queen's Gambit is popular worldwide. It ranked in Netflix's top 10 most watched programs in over 90 countries around the globe.

Obverse
Please see above for a full description of the design. Selective platinum plating lends an air of opulence to the design, appropriate for a truly rare gold proof. The legend KNIGHT denotes the theme.

Reverse
His Majesty, King Charles III, in profile effigy facing left. This portrait was executed by the engraver Jody Clark. The legend CHARLES III, the date of issue and denomination also appear, while the legend 1 OZ 9999 GOLD guarantees the weight and purity.