Sunday, 30 June 2019

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:

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" 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. 


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

Some other interesting links to posts on this blog on Currencies of the Middle-East:
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Saturday, 29 June 2019

1031) A 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote from Ukraine, to be issued by the National Bank of Ukraine: This Banknote will be part of a family of 6 circulating Banknote and 6 Coin denominations, making for a total of 12 denominations in circulation (reduced from 17 denominations in circulation at present): Banknote issue Date:25.10.2019:

1031) A 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote from Ukraine, to be issued by the National Bank of Ukraine: This Banknote will be part of a family of 6 circulating Banknote and 6 Coin denominations, making for a total of 12 denominations in circulation (reduced from 17 denominations in circulation at present): Banknote issue Date:25.10.2019:

The National Bank of Ukraine has unveiled the design of a new 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote on 25.06.2019, which is scheduled for release on 25.10.2019, which will be the largest denomination in circulation and is aimed at easing/facilitating cash payments in Ukraine. Although cashless payments are quite popular in Ukraine, cash is still the most important means of payment.

The National Bank has also confirmed that steps are being taken to streamline the number of Coins and Banknotes presently in circulation as legal tender within the Ukrainian economy. 

Coin denominations of 1, 2 and 5 Cents will cease to be a means of payment in Ukraine and will be withdrawn from circulation/demonetised on 01.10.2019.

 25 Kopek Coins, which are presently legal tender will be gradually withdrawn from circulation,  while, simultaneously, the release of newly introduced circulation coins of the denominations of  1, 2, 5 and 10 Hryvnia Coins will be increased in number. Banknotes of the same denominations will continue to be withdrawn and replaced by coins in circulation.

As the new reforms take place, the number of monetary instruments will be reduced from the present 17 denominations of Coins and Banknotes to 12 (6 Coins and 6 Banknotes) . The smallest denomination of coin in circulation will be 10 Kopecks and the smallest denomination of Banknote will be 20 Hryvnia.

The 1,000 Hryvnia denomination of Banknote:

The new 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote is designed to blend with the current series/family of Banknotes, which was initially introduced into circulation in 2007, with the issue of a 200 Hryvnia Banknote.

The Front and Back of the 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote, placed together

On the Front of the new 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote is seen an image of Vladimir Vernadsky (1863-1945), who was an eminent philosopher and natural scientist.

He founded entirely new branches of science in the fields of geochemistry, biochemistry and  and radiogeology.

He was one of the founders and the first President of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

The Dimensions/Size of this Banknote will be 160.0 mm x75.0 mm, which will differ from the other Banknotes is size, helping easy dentification of the Banknote denomination.

The Colour of this Banknote is predominantly blue.

The Back of the new 1,000 Hrvynia Banknote will present an image of the building of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

In keeping with the introduction of a new national symbol for the Hrvynia currency, the new symbol “₴” will be included in the design and is shown next to the numerical value on both sides as a reverse dollar symbol with a line struck across the centre.

The Security Features will include:

- A windowed holographic Security Strip:

This is located on the further  right half and is vertical in direction. The purple-coloured strip contains images of the denomination of the Banknote and Trident - the small National Emblem of Ukraine. When the Banknote is tilted, there is a kinematic effect, and the direction of motion of the background image of the Strip appears to change.

- A Watermark replicating the image of Vladimir Vernadsky:

Located on the left half, the image of Vernadsky can be easily seen when the Banknote is held against a light-source.

- A tactile application in the form of three vertical lines:

Located to the left side and on the Front, the lines are easily felt by the fingertips and used to identify the Banknote by visually impaired persons.

- An Optically Variable SPARK element:

Located to the right of the portrait of Vernadsky, the shape representing biochemistry has a kinematic effect. When the Banknote is tilted, the shape displays a gradual transition of colours from gold to jade.



Links to other posts on Ukrainian Coins/Banknotes on this Blog:
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1030) "Demeter", Greek Mythology - "The Olympian Gods": Goddess of Agriculture: A Gold Coin of 100 Euro: Coin issue date: 03.07.2019:

1030)  "Demeter", Greek Mythology - "The Olympian Gods": Goddess of Agriculture: A Gold Coin of 100 Euro: Coin issue date: 03.07.2019:

The Bank of Greece is releasing a Gold Collector Coin on 03.07.2019, which is issued in the coin series titled - "Greek Mythology - the Olympian Gods".

This coin features the Goddess Demeter, sister of Zeus, Poseidon and Pluto, who is the Goddess of agriculture, vegetation and fertility.

By Zeus, Demeter bore a daughter - Persephone - whom Pluto, the God of the Underworld, fell in love with and abducted. 

 The distraught Demeter's wanderings in search of her daughter brought her to the village of Eleusis.  Throughout the land, Demeter used her powers and  put a stop to fertility, caused droughts and famine to plague the land.

 To alleviate the threat to mankind (who were in no way responsible for her plight), Zeus was forced to intervene and Pluto had to consent to Persephone spending six months every year with her mother Demeter on Earth and spend the remaining six months every year with Pluto in the Underworld.

Further, as per the terms of the negotiated settlement, Demeter was required to teach the art of agriculture to Triptolemos, son of the king of Eleusis, who later taught it to mankind.

 Even today, the Goddess Demeter is worshipped/referenced with in the expectations of a good harvest. Her powers of fertility spread further in the ancient world and people in several ancient societies,  prayed to her for children. 

 In Greek and Roman coinage, her image/representation along with stalks of wheat (symbolising agriculture) was engraved on several ancient coins. Even as recently as the 20th Century,  she was depicted as a Goddess of Fertility on a Greek Circulation 10 Drachma Silver Coin, which were issued in 1930.

 The Commemorative Coin:
The Obverse and Reverse faces of the 100 Euro Gold Coin, depicting Demeter on the Obverse and a stalk of wheat on the Reverse
The Obverse of the 100 Euro Gold Coin depicts an image of a seated Demeter holding a staph in her left arm, with her right hand clasping her cloak.

 On the left periphery is engraved the text in Greek "HELLENIC MYTHOLOGY" and her name, also in Greek "DEMETER". The year of issue "2019" and the Hellenic State Mint Mark are also seen in the upper left half of the coin.

 Along the border is an intricate design seen on ancient Greek architecture.
The Reverse of the 100 Euro Gold Coin depicts a collection of wheat stalks centred with the Greek State  Crest super-imposed over the stems of the wheat. The text at centre left and right reads in Greek "HELLENIC REPUBLIC". At the lower periphery can be seen the denomination of the coin, again in Greek letters - "100 EURO" (placed on either side of the stalks).

 The specifications of this Gold Coin are:

 Denomination: 100 Euro; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 3.89 grams; Diameter: 17.5 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum Mintage: 1,200; Minted by/at: Hellenic State Mint at their facilities in Athens; Minted for: Bank of Greece; Designer: M. Antonatou.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a matte-polished wood custom case and is accompaniedwith a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).





Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:



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