Dwarven Sapphire Grotto Coin

Personal mileage coin of Nocturnx.

~~Limited Edition - 50 Minted
The Dwarven Treasure coins feature futhark runes. These ancient letters have been found on weapons and monuments throughout Europe and are believed by some to embody arcane powers. Many people are familiar with the runes due to their prominent use in Tolkien's books "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

This is the "Sapphire Grotto" edition. It features, two colors of blue sparkle enamel to evoke the gleam of countless sapphires. The coin is large at 2 inches in diameter and has a unique icon. The coin also includes two sapphire blue gems in honor of the Dwarves' love for gleaming treasure.

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Far inside the Dwarves’ city, past the temple district, is a large natural cavern that only two humans have entered. Miles inside that chamber and off to the side lies a small grotto whose entrance is so nondescript that few would notice it. However, once inside, the visitor will see that every last bit of the walls and ceiling are covered with naturally faceted blue sapphires. The gems are beautiful, but they are not the reason that the Dwarves hold this chamber as sacred, it is because of how the grotto changes any Dwarf that enters. If a poet goes in, he may come out a warrior, or if a king enters, he may come out a craftsman or a simpleton. You see, the grotto has changed every individual who ever entered. When a Dwarf enters and then exits, he always insists that he is no different than before and perhaps that is true for a time, but then he invariably experiences strange and unsettling dreams. After the dreams have run their course, the Dwarf is never again the same. Sometimes the change is a blessing, but just as often, it is a terrible curse. For this reason, only those Dwarves who have grown to hate their lives enter.

How does this grotto affect humans? Just one has entered in all of known history. Queen Aurelia, following the death of her husband, begged the Dwarves to allow her entrance. After much discussion, they reluctantly granted her passage. Was she changed when she returned to the human world? Did she dream strange and unsettling dreams? Well, that is a story for another night . . .

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~~Taken from the grave of Thráin II, this coin kept close to the great leader is now tainted by the power of The Seven. For which the great Dwarven leaders can resist, but in the hands of a mere mortal what effects will it have? Will the owner go the way of the Nine, or perhaps it will have the same unfortunate outcome as poor Trahald, or like Celebrimbor will it have no affect upon the bearer?

- Vinous