Front: “Nosce Te Ipsum” (know thyself)
Back: “Knowing thyself is the beginning of all wisdom”
At a glance
- Theme: self knowledge: being honest with yourself
- Good for: journaling, turning points, therapy and coaching work, philosophy studies
- Gift for: philosophy students, teachers, coaches, a friend at a crossroads, a son or daughter starting out
- Finishes: Antique Silver (brass alloy), Antique Bronze (brass alloy)
- Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA
The meaning
Know thyself was carved at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in ancient Greece, in Greek gnothi seauton. Socrates made it the starting point of philosophy, and the Romans carried it on in Latin as nosce te ipsum.
The Stoics made it a daily practice. Epictetus pointed his students back to the words at Delphi, and Seneca ended each day by reviewing what he had said and done, an honest look at himself before sleep.
The back adds a line of ancient wisdom that has guided thinkers for centuries: knowing thyself is the beginning of all wisdom. Before you can choose well, you need an honest look at what you want, what you fear and what you keep repeating.
The design
The front shows Janus, the two faced Roman god of beginnings, crowned with laurel, one face looking back and one looking ahead. It is a fitting picture for self knowledge: you learn who you are from where you have been. The back shows the owl of Athena, goddess of wisdom, with an olive sprig and a crescent moon, and the letters ΑΘΕ, as the Athenians drew her.
On good days and hard days
- On good days, it invites you to notice what is working and why, so you can do more of it.
- On hard days, when you feel lost or keep repeating the same mistakes, it asks the oldest question in philosophy: who are you, really? That is where wisdom begins.
Carry it
Use it as a pause before a reaction. Ask the question on the front: is this really me, or just habit? One customer wrote that it is easy to carry and to reflect on, a piece of old wisdom to hold instead of a screen.
Give it
It suits philosophy and psychology students, teachers, coaches and anyone at a turning point. One customer gave one to a friend who was, in their words, blown away by it. Others call it a perfect gift for the Stoic people in their lives.
Specs
- Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
- Thickness: 2.7 mm
- Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
- Material: brass alloy (Antique Silver, Antique Bronze)
- Made: die struck, minted in the USA
- Each coin is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.
Questions
What does nosce te ipsum mean?
“Know thyself” in Latin. It is the Latin form of the Greek gnothi seauton, carved at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Who said “know thyself”?
No single person. It was an inscription at Delphi, and Socrates made it central to philosophy.
Is Know Thyself a Stoic idea?
It started at Delphi, before the Stoics, and they made it part of daily practice. Epictetus taught it, and Seneca reviewed his own day every evening to know himself better.
Why is there an owl on the coin?
The owl was the bird of Athena, goddess of wisdom, and the emblem of ancient Athens.
Other Stoic coins
- Stoic Virtues Coin: the four virtues as a daily checklist
- Inner Citadel Coin: a calm place inside
- Marcus Aurelius Coin: power over your mind
- Seneca Coin: for worry and overthinking
Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.
Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.