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Monday 18 June 2018

743) SUNBIRD: Seventh Coin in the "Birds of Israel" Coin Series (2018):

743) SUNBIRD: Seventh Coin in the "Birds of Israel" Coin Series (2018):


For other coins issued in this 8 Coin Series, please visit the following links:

Other interesting posts from Israel:

The Sunbird (Nectarinia osea):

The Sunbird is a tiny singing bird and the smallest found in Israel. It is only about 10.0 cm long and weighs about 8.0 grams.

It has a long tongue with a brush-like tip which it used for collecting pollen. Its proportionately long beak is curved to enable it to reach the pollen easily.

The male has beautiful shades of iridescent royal blue, while the female is brown and grey. 

The female builds the nest alone and sits on the eggs. Both birds feed the young and keep the same nest from year to year ("active nest").

In the past, the Sunbird was rarely seen in Israel, but as gardensand flowers have become more popular, the Sunbird has become more common.

The Obverse of the Coin depicts a Sunbird hovering over flowers to pick/collect pollen. Inscriptions in English and Hebrew are: "Birds of Israel" (on the upper periphery) and "Sunbird" (on the lower periphery), "The Holy Land Mint logo" and beneath it the metal fineness ".999 SILVER", weight "0.5 Oz" and the mint year "2018".

Each of the 8 coins in the series exhibits a common Reverse, with "The Land of Israel" at the centre of the world as seen from a satellite map.

Around the border, the angles and directions of a compass symbolise the "inner compass" of birds that directs them to the "Land of Israel".

The specifications of this coin are:

Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 15.5 grams; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Year of issue: 2018; Designer: Igal Gabay; Quantity/Mintage: 3,600 pieces; Minted by: ICMC (Israel Coin & Medals Corporation) - The Holy Land Mint.

The Box in which the coin is made available, together with an information booklet and the "Certificate of Authenticity" (COA).



The Banner showcasing the series of eight coins which will depict - Hoopoe, Warbler, Vulture, Lesser Kestrel, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Sunbird and Barn Owl.

The elegant box in which all the 8 coins issued in the Series can be placed.



4 comments:

  1. Satyajit Pratap has commented:
    "Great post - A big Thumbs-Up".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the constant encouragement, Satyajit.

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  2. Vikram Bhatnagar has commented:
    "Truly delicate and pretty bird, beautifully described!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Vikram. Look forward to your comments & visit to the posts. Always very encouraging.

      Delete