58) Commemorating 50 years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (Presently called World Wide Fund for Nature – WWF – since 1986):

58)  Commemorating 50 years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

        (Presently called World Wide Fund for Nature – WWF – since 1986):

The WWF Organisation and its mission:

In April 1961, some half a dozen wildlife experts formed a group to tackle environmental problems across the World. The Organization called the “World Wildlife Fund “was registered as a charity in Gland, Switzerland. 

WWF is primarily an international non-governmental organisation which works on issues regarding conservation, research and restoration of the Environment. The World Wildlife Fund has now been renamed as the World Wide Fund for Nature since 1986, to better reflect the scope of its activities, while retaining the WWF initials, (although in Canada, USA and the UK it is still known by its former name).

The initial mission of the WWF was “to halt and reverse the destruction of our environment”. In 1990s, the WWF revised its mission to “Stop the Degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

i) Conserving the World’s biological diversity

ii) Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable

iii)Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption”.

Motto of WWF : “ For a living planet”.

In 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature sued the then World Wrestling Federation for a trademark infringement lawsuit by using the WWF initials. In 2002, based on unfavourable Court decisions, the World Wrestling Federation was forced to change its name to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

WWF today, is the World’s largest independent Conservation Organisation having more than five million members working in over 100 countries supporting around 1400 projects. 

WWF’s Conservation Priorities/Focus since its inception :

Saving Wildlife was the driving priority, with fear that habitat destruction could cause the extinction of several species like the Elephant, Tigers and rhinoceros. WWF has worked for conserving endangered species and their habitats and to make more and more people aware of doing their part in saving Wildlife. 

Today the WWF is the World’s leading Conservation organisation. Its international reputation enables it to convince Governments, businesses and global organisations such as the United Nations to focus and join/act upon its concerns/objectives. It has co-founded important Organisations/Conventions like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

WWF works on finding lasting solutions to the most serious challenges facing the Earth. Safeguarding Nature still remains a priority to maintain Nature’s balance and saving endangered species.

Some important projects which the WWF has undertaken:

-          In 1972, Operation Tiger was started alongwith the Indian Government. Even today, in India, the present 10 rupee note has on its reverse an elephant, a Rhinoceros and a Tiger, which is a constant effort on the part of the Reserve Bank of India/Indian Government to make Indian citizens take pride in their Wildlife and join Conservation/protection movements. (A reference link on 10 rupee note designs given at the bottom of this post).

-          Even the small denomination 25 paise coin which has since gone out of circulation from end-June 2011 had on its reverse the image of a Rhinoceros from 1988 onwards, constantly reminding users of the National effort to save the Rhinoceros ( A reference link on 25 paise designs is given at the bottom of this post).

 The Tiger had also figured on the two rupee notes on the reverse from the first issues in 1950. The undernoted image is that of a two rupee Note issued in the 1970s featuring a tiger.

-          WWF since then has, also, worked on Tropical Rainforest campaigns (in areas like the Amazon), marine programmes – focussing on turtles, whales, dolphins and seals. A major Conservation of the Giant Panda programme was initiated in China in 1979. Also, WWF has several programmes to its credit in the Arctic, Coral Triangle, Africa, Borneo, Himalayas etc.

The reverse of the 100 rupee note in India, showcases the beautiful Himalayas for several years reminding all of us to preserve the natural beauty of the Himalayas. (A reference link on 100 rupee designs is given at bottom of this post).

-   To sustain peoples livelihoods who are dependent on Wildlife, sea-life and Habitats of animals, fishes and birds, and to ensure no destruction of Habitats and conservation of Wildlife, WWF helps businesses to become more sustainable as well as providing local populations with alternative ways of living, such as biogas systems which eliminate the need to cut down trees.

-          Much of the WWF’s work focuses on conservation of the three biomes that contain most of the World’s biodiversity : forests, freshwater ecosystems, and oceans and their coasts. Also, the WWF focuses on issues like pollution and climate change.

 

   Present day priorities for the WWF include protecting endangered species, such as the Tiger, polar bear, Amur leopard, as well as dolphins, bluefin tuna, turtles and North Sea Cods as well as protecting habitats etc.

Commemorative coins:

The Organisation has since completed 50 years of existence in 2011 and several Mints the World-over have commemorated the occasion by bringing out Commemorative coins.

The Royal Mint U.K has taken out a 50 pence coin in 2011 (seven- sided) with the following specifications:

Alloy: Cupro-nickel, Weight: 8 gms, Diameter: 27.30 mm, Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated.

The coin has been brought out in a “limited edition Presentation” of 50,000 coins (presented in the specific style/album as under) and the maximum coin mintage will be 2,50,000 coins (though not in the specific style of the limited edition presentation sets).

The obverse design has been created by Ian Rank-Broadley which has been seen on U.K coinage from January 1998.

On the obverse is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right with the inscription “D.G.Reg.F.D.” (Dei Gra Reg– meaning “By the Grace of God Queen”) F.D. (meaning “Defender of the Faith”). The initials of the designer “IRB” are just below the Queen’s portrait. At the bottom of the coin is the denominational value of the coin mentioned in words “fifty pence”.

The reverse design of the coin has been designed by Mathew Dent who has presented 50 stylised icons to represent birds, fishes, fruit, seeds, trees, plants, mammals, insects and lizards, as well as icons representing human impact i.e. farming, transport, renewable energy sources and a house. 50 icons represent the fifty years that the WWF has been in existence in 2011 (Golden Jubilee year which was being celebrated) and the areas of major focus/work by the WWF during these years. The initials of the designer “MD” can be seen on the right hand side of the year of issue “2011”. In the centre is the WWF logo the panda, which is recognised world-wide as a symbol of conservation and sustainable development, below which are the letters “WWF”.

The Bank of China, too, has issued two 2011 limited edition coins, one silver and the other gold, commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund. 

The silver coin of 10 yuan denomination features a Tibetan antelope or chiru in the foreground, with a bounding herd and a snow-covered mountain in the background.

The Tibetan antelope has been chosen for the coin, to draw World attention to the fact, that, the population of Tibetan antelopes has declined alarmingly by more than 50 % and now fewer than 1.00 lac of them remain. 

The WWF works with the local population, Tibetan Forest Bureau and Reserve Managers to develop conservation strategies and measures to tackle poaching of this endangered species. 

The main reason which has led to this decline in their population is, that, the chiru’s exceptionally fine under-fur also known as “shahtoosh” makes an exceptionally fine shawl and is traditionally used as wedding gifts in India. To get an estimate of the alarming situation, 4 chirus are required to be killed by poachers to make a single shawl. The price of these fur shawls could fetch more than $20000 internationally, hence for poachers and illegal hunters it is still a lucrative market.

 Also, Bank of China has issued a 100 Yuan gold coin with a Panda (the logo of the WWF) standing in front of a World globe highlighting the role played by the WWF in Animal conservation World-wide and its own Save the Panda project undertaken with the WWF in 1979.

 The gold coin issued by China for the commemoration.

The Perth Mint, Australia has also brought out a beautiful coin on the Black Rhinoceros (out of each coin purchased ,a small percentage will go to the WWF). 

The WWF logo:

The original Panda-logo of the WWF was created in 1961 by the Organisation’s co-founder Sir Peter Scott and was inspired by Chi Chi, a Panda who was brought from China, and was a popular attraction at the London Zoo. The present Panda logo of the WWF was introduced in 1986 (25 years ago).

REFERENCE LINKS:
 Ten rupee notes:
 http://exclusivecoins.blogspot.in/2011/12/did-you-know-series-10-ten-rupee-notes.html

25 paise coins:

http://exclusivecoins.blogspot.in/2011/06/20-independent-india-issues-25-paise.html 

100 rupee Notes: 

 http://exclusivecoins.blogspot.in/2011/10/did-you-know-series-7-100-rupee-notes.html


Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint 

Famous Battles: 

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes

Banknotes from Scotland:
  
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote