2517) Great Crested Grebe, Bulgaria: "Natural Diversity in the Republic of Bulgaria Coin Series": A 10 Lev Silver Coin issued by the National Bank of Bulgaria, minted by the Bulgarian Mint: Date/Year of Coin issue: 16.09.2022:
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the Grebe family of water birds noted for its elaborate mating display.
The Great Crested Grebe was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his "Systema Naturae" under the binomial name "Colymbus cristatus". The Great Crested Grebe is now the type species of the genus "Podiceps" that was classified by John Latham in 1787.
The Great Crested Grebe is the largest member of the grebe family found in the Old World, with some larger species residing in the Americas.
They measure 46–51 cm (18–20 in) long with a 59–73 cm (23–29 in) wingspan and weigh 0.9 to 1.5 kg (2.0 to 3.3 lb).
They are excellent swimmers and divers, and pursue their fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations. In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill.
The young are distinctive because their heads are striped black and white. They lose these markings when they become adults.
The Great Crested Grebe breeds in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes. The subspecies P. c. cristatus is found across Europe and east across the Palearctic.
It is resident in the milder west of its range, but migrates from the colder regions. It winters on freshwater lakes and reservoirs or the coast.
Young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The adults teach these skills to their young by carrying them on their back and diving, leaving the chicks to float on the surface; they then re-emerge a few feet away so that the chicks may swim back onto them.
The Great Crested Grebe feeds mainly on fish, but also small crustaceans, insects, small frogs and newts.
This species was hunted almost to extinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate ladies' hats and garments.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species.
The Coin:
The Reverse of the 10 Levs Silver Coin features an image of a Great Crested Grebe swimming through water plants and their reflection in the water; ‘ГОЛЯМ ГМУРЕЦ’ (Great Crested Grebe) inscribed on the periphery on the bottom.
The Obverse of the 10 Levs Silver Coin features the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) logo with the year "1879" on the ribbon/lemniscate.
On the upper periphery is inscribed ‘БЪЛГАРСКА НАРОДНА БАНКА’ (Bulgarian National Bank) The year of issue "2022" and the denominational value of the Coin ‘10 ЛЕВА’ (10 levs) are engraved at the bottom.
The specifications of this Coin are:
Country: Bulgaria; Date/Year of issue: 16.09.2022; Coin Series Theme: "Natural Diversity in the Republic of Bulgaria"; Coin Theme: "Great Crested Grebe"; Denomination: 10 Levs; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Weight: 23.33 grams; Shape: Round; Edge: Plain; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mint: Bulgarian Mint; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Designers: Ivan Todorov and Todor Todorov.
Links:
1) 100 Levs Banknote from Bulgaria wins the prestigious Regional Banknote of the Year Award - 2019
Links on posts about the Republic of Macedonia:
No comments:
Post a Comment