1032) The Big Five - "Water Buffalo", Sierra Leone: 20 Dollars or Double Crown Silver coin: The fifth and last of the coin series titled - "Big Five", all coins minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the Bank of Sierra Leone: Coin issue date: 26.06.2019:
The Bank of Sierra Leone has issued on 26.06.2019 the fifth and last Collector Coin, which is a part of a Double-Crown Silver Proof Coin Series titled - "The Big Five".
The "Big Five" was a term originally created by game hunters to represent the most difficult game to hunt, but presently one can only "shoot" these magnificent animals by "pointing a camera at them".
The "Big Five" was a term originally created by game hunters to represent the most difficult game to hunt, but presently one can only "shoot" these magnificent animals by "pointing a camera at them".
The "Big Five" includes the African Elephant, the Lion, the Rhinoceros, the Leopard and the Water Buffalo.
The fifth coin focusses on the Water Buffalo, as distinctive as any animal found on the African plains and though, they have never been successfully domesticated in great numbers, some have been used for purposes of domestic land cultivation by farmers.
Their unusual curled horns are very effectively used to fight off predators such as lions and crocodiles.
Water Buffaloes can be wild and unpredictable and in terms of their ferocity, they are considered to be the most dangerous of the "Big Five" to game hunters, due to their tendency to lash out when wounded and ambush and attack the hunter.
African Cape buffaloes have very few predators aside from lions and crocodiles, but due to their distinctive horns, they are still sought after by hunters as trophies and in some communities as a source of nutrition.
The characteristic features of the horns of adult male African Buffaloes, both for the Southern and Eastern populations, is that the bases come very close together, forming a shield on top of the head referred to as a "boss". From the base, the horns diverge downwards, and then smoothly curve upwards and outwards, and in a few cases, inwards or backwards.
In 2019, the African Water Buffalo was listed as a near-threatened species with only about 400,000 individuals left.
The Coins:
The Silver coin has been minted in stunning High relief in 2 Oz Fine Silver polished blanks by Pobjoy Mint, UK at their facilities in Surrey, on behalf of the Bank of Sierra Leone.
Their unusual curled horns are very effectively used to fight off predators such as lions and crocodiles.
Water Buffaloes can be wild and unpredictable and in terms of their ferocity, they are considered to be the most dangerous of the "Big Five" to game hunters, due to their tendency to lash out when wounded and ambush and attack the hunter.
African Cape buffaloes have very few predators aside from lions and crocodiles, but due to their distinctive horns, they are still sought after by hunters as trophies and in some communities as a source of nutrition.
The characteristic features of the horns of adult male African Buffaloes, both for the Southern and Eastern populations, is that the bases come very close together, forming a shield on top of the head referred to as a "boss". From the base, the horns diverge downwards, and then smoothly curve upwards and outwards, and in a few cases, inwards or backwards.
In 2019, the African Water Buffalo was listed as a near-threatened species with only about 400,000 individuals left.
The Coins:
The Silver coin has been minted in stunning High relief in 2 Oz Fine Silver polished blanks by Pobjoy Mint, UK at their facilities in Surrey, on behalf of the Bank of Sierra Leone.
The Reverse and Obverse of the 20 Dollars Silver Coin placed together
The Obverse of the Silver 20 Dollars Coin shows a front-facing head of a Water Buffalo styled as an African mask. The special incused rim displays an African pattern and includes the denomination "2020 DOLLARS".
The Reverse of the 20 Dollars Silver Coin depicts the Crest of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the Centre, with the text/inscription on the upper periphery - "REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE" placed above the Crest. On the lower periphery is the year of issue "2019".
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: 20 Dollars or "Double Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 62.2 grams or 2.0 Oz; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum Mintage: 500 pieces; Minted by: Pobjoy Mint, UK; On Behalf Of: Bank of Sierra Leone; Year: 2019. Presentation: The Coin is presented in a unique acrylic box, with a sleeve certifying the Authenticity (COA); A 5 Coin Set Presentation Box is also being sold separately.
Each of the Silver coins is encased in an elegant/creative Perspex container in the shape of a square which frames the coin, presenting an easy display. The frame is packaged in an outer printed sleeve and is accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
A special Presentation Case has been made to house the entire five-coin set, which is also available for being purchased separately by collectors.
Some other interesting posts from the African Continent on this blog:
15) Archosauria (The Rise of the Dinosaurs): "Natura series" of Five Gold Coins from the "Palaeontology Collection": A set of Gold Coins brought out by the South african Mint in 2018
16) New Circulation coins Series, Kenya: introduced by the Central Bank of Kenya on 11.12.2018
17) Sudan: A 100 Pounds Banknote being issued by the Central Bank of Sudan by End February 2019
18) Algeria: i) Introduction of two new denominations of 500 and 1,000 Algerian Dinars (AD), which will kick-start the new "Fifth Series of Algerian Dinar Banknotes" ii) A 100 Algerian Dinar tri-metallic coin which wil replace the 100 Dinar circulating Banknote of the same denomination
19) South Africa: "The Big Five Silver Coin Series": 1) First Coin in the Series brought out by the South African Mint features the African Elephant on a Five Rand Coin as the first variant issued in 02/2019: 2) Later Coin issues will feature the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and the Buffalo
20) 25 Years of Constitutional Democracy in South Africa (SA25): Celebrating the milestone with the issue of six circulation coins (R2 five coins & R5 one Coin) and three Commemorative Coins (Gold R500, Sterling Silver R50 & Bronze Alloy R50) issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in partnership with the South African Mint: Coin release dats: 04/2019 & 05/2019
21) The Big Five - "Water Buffalo", Sierra Leone: 20 Dollars or Double Crown Silver coin: The fifth and last of the Coin Series titled" BIg Five", all coins minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the Bank of sierra Leone: Coin issue date: 26.06.2019
16) New Circulation coins Series, Kenya: introduced by the Central Bank of Kenya on 11.12.2018
17) Sudan: A 100 Pounds Banknote being issued by the Central Bank of Sudan by End February 2019
18) Algeria: i) Introduction of two new denominations of 500 and 1,000 Algerian Dinars (AD), which will kick-start the new "Fifth Series of Algerian Dinar Banknotes" ii) A 100 Algerian Dinar tri-metallic coin which wil replace the 100 Dinar circulating Banknote of the same denomination
19) South Africa: "The Big Five Silver Coin Series": 1) First Coin in the Series brought out by the South African Mint features the African Elephant on a Five Rand Coin as the first variant issued in 02/2019: 2) Later Coin issues will feature the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and the Buffalo
20) 25 Years of Constitutional Democracy in South Africa (SA25): Celebrating the milestone with the issue of six circulation coins (R2 five coins & R5 one Coin) and three Commemorative Coins (Gold R500, Sterling Silver R50 & Bronze Alloy R50) issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in partnership with the South African Mint: Coin release dats: 04/2019 & 05/2019
21) The Big Five - "Water Buffalo", Sierra Leone: 20 Dollars or Double Crown Silver coin: The fifth and last of the Coin Series titled" BIg Five", all coins minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the Bank of sierra Leone: Coin issue date: 26.06.2019
Some other interesting links to posts on this blog on Currencies of the Middle-East:
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