2217) Chameleon, Niue Island: "Amazing Aimals Coin Series": InterCoins, Berlin has issued a $7 (Seven Dollars - NZD) Coin on behalf of Niue Island depicting a Chameleon in the process of capturing a cockroach: Year of Coins issue: 2021:
THE CHAMELEON:
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized class of Old World lizards, with around 202 known species. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to change colour.
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet, their swaying gait, and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Most species (the larger ones in particular) also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons’ eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Chameleons are adapted for climbing and visual hunting. They live in warm habitats that range from rainforest to desert conditions, with various species occurring in Africa, Madagascar, Southern Europe, and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka. They have been introduced to Hawaii, California, and Florida.
Different chameleon species are able to vary their colouration and pattern through combinations of pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise, and purple.
Chameleon skin has a superficial layer which contains pigments, and under the layer are cells with very small (nanoscale) guanine crystals. Chameleons change colour by “actively tuning the photonic response of a lattice of small guanine nanocrystals in the siridophores”.
Colour change in chameleons has functions in camouflage, but most commonly in social signalling and in reactions to temperature and other conditions.
Colour change signals a chameleon’s physiological condition and intentions to other chameleons.
Because chameleons are ectothermic, another reason why they change colour is to regulate their body temperatures, either to a darker colour to absorb light and heat to raise their temperature, or to a lighter colour to reflect light and heat, thereby either stabilising or lowering their body temperature.
Chameleons tend to show brighter colours when displaying aggression to other chameleons, and darker colours when they submit or “give up”.
Some species, particularly those of Madagascar and some African genera in rainforest habitats, have blue fluorescence in their skull tubercles, deriving from bones and possibly serving a signalling role.
The Coin:
A holographic enamel brings the Chameleon to life on this first release in the "Amazing Animals Coin Series", three-ounce high-relief silver coin minted by InterCoins, Berlin.
On the Reverse of the $7 (Seven Dollars - NZD) Silver Coin, the Chameleon, is depicted with its tongue and prehensile tail, layered mass of foliage and one large leaf in the foreground has a grasshopper resting upon it.
The holographic enamel application allows the depicted chameleon to successfully reproduce the changing hues that typify the animal in reality, it gave its name to a whole form of camouflage – chameleonic.
The inscription reads - "CHAMELEON" (on the upper periphery).
On the Obverse of the $7 (Seven Dollars - NZD) Silver Coin is seen a spiral texture that apes the almost as famous curled tail of this unique creature.
There is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck.
The inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II. NIUE. 7 DOLLARS. 2021. Ag 999".
The specifications of this Silver Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Niue Island; Coin Series Theme: "Amazing Animals"; Coin Theme: "Chameleon"; Year: 2021; Denomination/Face Value: $7 (Seven Dollars - NZD); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 3.0 Oz or 93.3 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.00 mm; Coin Quality: Antique Finish (AF); Modifications: Black crystal, holographic enamel, high-relief; Mintage: 421 pieces; Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes.
The Coins are encapsulated and presented in a Custom Case accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA).
The above images show the Coin's High Relief
Links to posts on "The Mandalorian Classic Coin Collection on this Blog:
5) Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), Niue: First Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 01/2020
6) Nikola Tesla, Niue: Second Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series" minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue : Date of Coin issue: 03/2020
7) Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Niue: Third Silver Coin with a denominational value of 1 NZD (One New Zealand Dollar) in "Geniuses of the 19th Century Coin Series", minted by the Czech Mint on behalf of Niue: Date of Coin issue: 07/2020
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series". 4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series". 5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
Links to interesting posts from the South Pacific Island of Fiji:
Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and Countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog:
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series". 4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series". 5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
7) Michelangelo's "Pieta", Vatican City: New Copper Coin Series titled "Art and Faithy": A 10 Euro Copper Coin minted by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato" (IPZS) on behalf of the "Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Governatorato della Cotta del Vaticano": Coin issue date: 05.03.2020
8) Ancient Postal Routes, Vatican City State: EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two stamps of 1.10 Euro and 1.15 Euro issued by the Ufficio filatelico e Numismatico -Governatorato, Vaticano featuring Ancient Postal Routes emanating from the Vatican City State during the 6th & 11th Centuries AD
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
DeleteAshok Borate has commented:
ReplyDelete"Really very interesting post."
Thank you, Ashokji.
DeleteEducative format;)
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