710) Jaguar - "Wildlife of Nicaragua" Coin Series: A 100 Cordobas Silver Proof Coin issued by the Banco Central de Nicaragua in 2018, minted by the New Zealand Mint:
Nicaragua, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean sea is a Central American country known for its dramatic terrain of lakes, volcanoes and beaches. To its North are El Salvador and Honduras, while to Nicaragua's South is Granada noted for its Spanish colonial architecture and Costa Rica. The vast Lake Managua and the iconic strato-volcano Momotombo are located North of the Nicaraguan capital Managua. The Cordoba is its currency (C$).
The Banco Central de Nicaragua has issued its first coin in a new Series which highlights the Central American country's wildlife that is both prevalent and in many cases unique to the country or the region. The distribution of Jaguars is predominantly in South-western USA, Mexico, Central and South America to Northern Argentina.
The Banco Central de Nicaragua has issued its first coin in a new Series which highlights the Central American country's wildlife that is both prevalent and in many cases unique to the country or the region. The distribution of Jaguars is predominantly in South-western USA, Mexico, Central and South America to Northern Argentina.
The first coin in the "Wildlife of Nicaragua" Coin Series depicts the elusive Jaguar, a stealthy hunter and creature of immense beauty.
About the Jaguar:
The Jaguar is the largest wild cat to be found in Nicaragua and is also indigenous not only to Nicaragua, but also is the only extant member of the genus "Panthera" native to the Americas and is the only big cat in the Americas. It is smaller in length to the cougar, but is much bulkier and heavier.
Jaguars are usually a tawny yellow, with dark rings but they can also be black.
Being the largest cat species in the Americas, it is also the third-largest in the world after the tiger and the lion.
This spotted cat closely resembles the leopard but is usually larger and sturdier, preferring habitat that is tropical and sub-tropical with moist broadleaf forests, swamps and wooded regions. Jaguars prefer to live in areas with plenty of water for at least part of the year, although they will stray onto grasslands and into deserts in search of food.
They live alone, taking refuge in secluded spots during the day and stalking prey at night. Despite being expert climbers, they hunt on the ground and drag their kills to hideaways before devouring them. Their food consists primarily of Capybaras, Peccaries, caimans and tapirs.
Female Jaguars defend smaller territories than males and a male's territory may overlap those of two or three females. The cats advertise their presence by scenting landmarks with urine or faeces and by scraping marks on tree-trunks and rocks. When a female is ready to breed, she will leave her home range and be courted by outside males. Litters of 1-2 cubs are born every 2-3 years.
With a similar liking to water as tigers, Jaguars enjoy swimming and are, for the most part, a largely solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the food chain. As such, it plays an important role in stabilising eco-systems and regulating prey populations.
Its distinctive "rosettes" on its coat provides an excellent camouflage for hunting and hiding in dense forests. With its short, stocky, limb structure, this makes it well adapted to climbing, crawling and swimming - perfect for stalking and ambushing prey.
The life span of Jaguars is about 22 years.
The Coin:
The Reverse of the 100 Cordobas Silver Coin
The Reverse design combines the spotted Jaguar amongst a detailed engraving of its natural forest habitat. On the upper periphery is mentioned "JAGUAR" and on the lower periphery the denomination of the coin "100 CORDOBAS".
The Obverse of the 100 Cordobas Silver coin
The Obverse of the coin shows the Coat of Arms/Crest/Emblem of Nicaragua in the centre, below which is the year of issue "2018". The inscriptions are "REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA" (on the upper periphery) and "AMERICA CENTRAL" (on the lower periphery).
The Emblem/Crest of Nicaragua:
The present Nicaraguan Emblem was adopted in 1971 and features a triangle encircled by the words in gold colour "REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA" on the top and "AMERICA CENTRAL" on the bottom.
The Equilateral triangle stands for EQUALITY.
The Rainbow in the centre stands for PEACE.
The Phrygian Cap ("Gorro Frigio") in the middle signifies FREEDOM.
The present Nicaraguan Emblem was adopted in 1971 and features a triangle encircled by the words in gold colour "REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA" on the top and "AMERICA CENTRAL" on the bottom.
The Equilateral triangle stands for EQUALITY.
The Rainbow in the centre stands for PEACE.
The Phrygian Cap ("Gorro Frigio") in the middle signifies FREEDOM.
The five volcanoes represent the UNION and the FRATERNITY between the five Central American countries.
The specifications of this coin are:
Coin Denomination: C$100 (100 Cordobas); Metal Composition: .999 Fine Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Weight: 31.10 grams or 1 Troy Oz; Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Country of Issue: Nicaragua; Mint: New Zealand Mint; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Edge: Milled; Year of issue: 2018.
The custom-made wooden box in which the encapsulated coin is housed
The wooden Box displays the Nicaraguan Crest/Emblem on the lid of the box
The outer box displays the Jaguar Coin design and complements Nicaragua's wildlife theme for this Coin Series
Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:
2) The Travels of a Mexican silver Peso struck in 1898; Restruck for the chinese Government in 1949.
4) Dios de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed Round issues: 31.10 2017
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