When my wife and I visit a military facility, such as
Edwards Air Force Base, we sometimes pick up a souvenir coin. We do so not because we believe it will
increase in value, but as a reminder of a pleasant visit to an important and interesting
place. As
these attractive coins are mass-produced, we feel no anxiety about displaying them prominently in
our house. On the other hand, if I had one of those Conan coins, I’d
have to keep it in a safe, or at a bank in a safety deposit box. I’d probably only look at it every once in
awhile, and derive little pleasure from doing so.
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| Front of Souvenir Coin |
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| Back of Souvenir Coin Warning: Coins in picture shown larger than they really appear! |
Recently, I picked up an old, yellowed copy of “Conan The
Barbarian” Vol. 1 Issue #39 at my local comic book store. In “The Dragon From The Inland Sea,” Conan
meets a king and his niece who have recently fled their city. The dragon is a monstrous, prehistoric
crocodile, summoned by a sorcerer periodically to attack the king’s city of Keshaan. At first, the king acquiesces to the
sorcerer’s demands, and sacrifices a pretty maiden each time to stave off the dragon. But when the sorcerer demands that he
sacrifice his niece, the king flees his precious city, leaving it under the rule
of the villainous sorcerer.
It’s a familiar plot, yet Roy Thomas’ writing (and John
Buscema’s artwork) kept me turning the pages as Conan helps the king and his
niece retake Keshaan, fight the sorcerer, and vanquish the dragon. Thomas even ended the story with a real kicker,
revealing on the final page the true nature of the relationship between the
king, his niece, and the villainous sorcerer.
The story serves as a shining example why Hallmark Minting Service
selected Conan--who had only featured in Marvel Comics for three years at this
point--for their “Big Three” coins.
For those who collect such souvenirs, and are fortunate enough
to own one of those rare Conan coins, I’m happy for them. But
personally (and monetary issues aside), I’m far happier to have “The Dragon
From The Inland Sea” in my collection.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go read the story
again.
Dragon Dave
Related Internet Links
Complete Synopsis of “The Dragon From The Inland Sea”
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