532) Falkland Islands Penguins: The Gentoo Penguin: 50 Pence Coin Series: The second Coin in the Series of four coins with a Coloured Cupro-Nickel Diamond Finish Coin issued on 20.06.2017:

532) Falkland Islands Penguins: The Gentoo Penguin: 50 Pence Coin Series: The second Coin in the Series of four coins with a  Coloured Cupro-Nickel Diamond Finish Coin issued on 20.06.2017:

 (For my earlier posts on the Currency & Coinage of Falkland Islands,& the Falkland Islands Penguin Coin Series,  please visit the following link:
1) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

2) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-hopper Penguin

F3) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The second coin in the Series of four coins: the Gentoo Penguin

4) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin series: The Third Coin in the Series of four coins: the King Penguin:

5) Falkland Island Penguins: 50 Pence coin series: The Fourth coin of the Series: The Magellanic Penguin

The Treasury and Government of the Falkland Islands has released the second coin in a Series of four coins which highlight one of the Island’s most well-known and much liked/loved residents belonging to the animal kingdom – The “indigenous” Penguin. This series features full-colour renditions of the Islands more numerous inhabitants.

About Penguins:

Penguins are found close to the Arctic Pole in areas favouring coastal habitation or South of the Equator or on the many islands surrounding the Continent of Antarctica or adjacent areas.

There are 17 species of Penguins (each slightly different) found across the globe. Some of the species have nicknames, which give an impression that there are more than 17 species. For example – “Little Penguin” is also known as the “Blue Penguin”). All the species live in the Southern Hemisphere, while many are found at the South Pole in the Antarctica.

The Falkland Islands refer to themselves as the Penguin Capital of the World as more than one million penguins have made the Falklands their home and nest on these Islands throughout the year, because of their proximity to the nearest point of Antarctica – just 750 km away.

Their geographic placement off the tip of South America, not too distant from the coast of Antarctica, provides an ideal location for these extraordinary birds to live, breed and raise their young.

The Arctic Region is the only place where penguins are mostly found, although a few species of this flightless bird actually make their home on the Southern-most Continent. The penguin has evolved over a period of time to adapt to such harsh weather and atmospheric conditions – however this process of evolution has made them very adept at swimming in water rather than flying across the skies.

The Penguins/Coins issued under the four 50 Pence Coin Series:

 A Gentoo Penguin standing on the rocky shoreline of the Falkland Islands appears to "evaluate the design" on the Reverse face of the 50 Pence coin issued on the Gentoo penguin.

The set of four 7-sided 50 Pence coins all depict indigenous penguins found on the Falkland Islands.

The four coin set includes – Rock-hopper Penguin (April 2017), Gentoo Penguin (June 2017), King Penguin (June 2017) and Magellanic Penguin (October 2017).

Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua):  is one of the three species in the genus “Pygoscelis” found on the Falkland Islands and around the Antarctic.

This species is recognisable by a white strip across the top of its head and a bright orange bill. It also has one of the largest tails amongst all penguin species. The penguin is renowned for its waddle and its sweeping tail that moves from side to side when it walks. (Its scientific name actually translates into “rump-tailed”.)

It is the largest penguin of the stiff-tailed family.  Found in the Falkland Islands it is second in size only to the King Penguin. Gentoo penguins grow quite large and are actually the third-largest species, with the male Gentoo reaching a height of 90 cms (or about 35 inches). They can weigh about 8.5 kilograms (or 18 pounds).

They sustain themselves primarily on a diet of krill, crustaceans and fish, which they catch with ease due to their top swimming speed of about 36 kilometres an hour (or 22.3 miles per hour).

It is estimated that the current population of the gentoo penguins is about 320,000 breeding pairs, as such they are not classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Nevertheless, their population has fallen by around two-thirds over the last three decades or so, primarily due to predation by sea-lions, leopard seals and killer whales (Orcas).

While on land, they have no natural predators, but Skua Gulls and other birds of prey attack and eat their young chicks. They also have their eggs stolen by hungry sea-birds.

The second coin issued on 20^th June 2017 – The Gentoo Penguin: 

 The Reverse of the second 50 Pence Coin in the Series depicts an adult gentoo penguin cuddled up with its two chicks over a rocky mountain. Sitting on a rocky mountain outcrop, where they like to nest, the cute trio make for a heart-touching picture.  Above and below the penguin trio on the plain field are the inscriptions on this face – “GENTOO PENGUIN” (on the upper periphery) and the denomination of the coin “FIFTY PENCE” (on the lower periphery.

The Obverse of the 50 Pence Coin in the Series depicts an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II which is an exclusive design by the Pobjoy Mint (initials “PM”), which has minted this coin on behalf of the Government & Treasury of the Falkland Islands with the peripheral inscription – “FALKLAND ISLANDS ELIZABETH II.2017”.

The Specifications/Highlights of the Coin are:

Year of issue: 2017; Denomination: 50 Pence; Diameter: 27.30 mm; Weight: 8.00 grams; Coin Quality: Coloured Cupro-Nickel Diamond Finish; Country of issue: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory – BOT); Maximum Mintage: 7,500; Four Coin Series Minted by: British Pobjoy Mint.






Links:

Bank of England Banknotes:

1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"

2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.

3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on theStockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn

4) A 20 Pounds Banknote issued on Michael Faraday (a Scientist) issued in 1991, since withdrawn from circulation in 2001 

5) Great Britain's first circulating polymer Banknote issued by the Bank of England in the denomination of 5 Pounds on 13.09.2016

Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:

1) The Ryder Cup Commemorative Banknote: A 5 Pounds Banknote issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014 

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

13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin 

15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017 

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

5) The new 12-sided One Pound UK Coin introduced into circulation on 28.03.2017

 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 

Postage Stamps:

1) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

 2) "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

3) Celebrating the Centenary of Agatha Christie's first Crime Novel and 40th Anniversary of her passing away by issue of a set of 6 stamps by Royal Mail, UK 

4) Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday: A Souvenir Sheet issued by the Royal Mail, UK featuring four generations of Windsors on 21.04.16