2704) Balkhash perch ("Perca schrenkii"), Kazakhstan: 1,000 Tenge Silver Proof Coins with unique three-dimensional relief features Balkhash perch and Cupro-nickel 200 Tenge Coins feature Natural Wildlife and fauna of the country: Year of Coin issue: 2023:
The Banner/Header showcases the Reverse and Obverse of the 1,000 Tenge Proof Coin presented against a photograph of Lake Balkhash (Balkhash Alabugasy).
The National Bank of Kazakhstan has released Silver Proof Coins focusing on the country’s natural flora and fauna, especially on its aquatic wildlife.
The new coins were introduced during a live presentation at the World Money Fair’s media forum in Berlin on 04.02.2023.
The design for 2023 features an endangered species of Perch found in Lake Balkhash, ("Perca schrenkii") which is a species endemic to the Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol watershed system of Kazakhstan.
This sub-species is similar to the other two species of local perch and grows to a comparable size but has a slimmer build and is lighter in colour.
It has suffered a population decline which is blamed on introduced bream and predatory fish such as the Volga pikeperch.
Discovery and first scientific description:
An expedition of Alexander von Schrenk to eastern Turkestan collected this species in 1842 and deposited preserved specimens at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.
Karl Kessler's formal description was published much later, in 1874, after the rediscovered specimens were sent to him by Alexander Strauch.
The description was included in an article on fishes collected by the later expedition to Turkestan of Alexei Pavlovich Fedchenko.
The fish is named after Alexander von Schrenck (1816–1876) the Baltic-German Russian naturalist and collector/explorer of Central Asia and northern Russia. Von Schrenck published observations about this species in 1840.
Presence in Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol:
Lake Balkhash itself has an area of about 16,400 square kilometres (6,332 square miles) and, as such, is the largest lake wholly within the borders of Kazakhstan.
Balkhash Perch is found in Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol, both in Kazakhstan.
Conservation status:
The IUCN Red list status of the Balkhash perch has been assessed as 'rare'.
The population had declined primarily due to the introduction of bream and predatory species, such as the Volga pikeperch (Sander volgensis).
The population trend of the Balkhash perch was described as 'unknown' and the overall assessment was that the species was data deficient.
It was further assessed that - "Although the external morphology and life strategy of the Balkash perch appear rather adaptable, the species' future is uncertain."
Primary Focus on the Balkhash Perch:
To draw attention to the "disappearance of the Balkhash perch", the National Bank of Kazakhstan took the decision to issue a unique “Balkhash perch” commemorative coin.
Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash is the 15th largest lake in the world, and, unlike any other lakes in the world, Balkhash comprises two very distinct parts which were created by nature.
That is, the eastern half of the lake contains salt water, and the western half contains fresh water, quite a rare occurrence in nature.
Lake Balkhash and coastal areas also have unique flora diversity, as most of the species are endemic.
In particular, one of the lake’s endemic fish is the "Balkhash perch", which evolved around 5-7 million years ago when it separated from its closest relative, the "common river perch".
During the 1930s and 1940s, the peak of Balkhash perch was harvested, with up to 5.4 thousand tons of Balkhash perch processed each year.
However, catches were noticeably declining, and by the 1960s, the Balkhash perch was completely depleted, no longer caught in Lake Balkhash waters.
Scientists deduced that towards the end of the 1940s, the predatory pikeperch was introduced into the lake, and the resulting consequence was the pikeperch began to exterminate the Balkhash perch.
To try and reverse the mass extermination of the Balkhash perch, other fish species were introduced into the lake in an attempt to essentially entice the pikeperch to switch its preferred appetite from the Balkhash pike. Unfortunately, their expectations were not met, and as a result, the stock of Balkhash perch has still not yet recovered.
In an effort to protect this species from complete extinction, the Balkhash perch has been listed in the red book of Kazakhstan.
The problem of what may be the total extinction of such a tiny fish like the Balkhash perch raises legitimate questions of how humans can take more responsibility towards saving our planet and the many creatures we share our home with.
Losing even one small part of the ecosystem, which has taken millions of years to be formed, may lead to problems down the road.
The Coins:
Both the traditional strike and three-dimensional coins have been minted by the National Mint of Kazakhstan at their facilities in Oskemen, East Kazakhstan, on behalf of the National Bank.
The coin’s three-dimensional relief required over nine months of extensive research and trial, resulting in an unparalleled height of 17 millimetres off the surface.
The process involves two separate entities of a surface or washer and a pin method which, when specially struck, results in the two pieces fused together and an extraordinary ultra-high relief strike.
As such, the design and state-of-the-art minting techniques enhance the appearance of the Balkhash perch as if emerging from the lake’s waters.
To date, no other mint in the world has managed to duplicate these results.
In addition to the exceptional relief and to enhance the design, iridescent colours replicating the scales of the perch have been added to the surface.
To the right edge of the Reverse of the 1,000 Tenge Silver Proof Coin is the text "BALQASH ALABUǴASY" and to the lower left edge in stylised text is the perch’s’ Latin species name "Perca schrenkii".
The Obverse of the Coin which is shared on both the silver Proof and Prooflike cupro-nickel strikes, includes a motif of the indigenous flora and fauna etched on the surface along with the crest of the Republic of Kazakhstan seen superimposed over the motif.
On the left side are the coins’ denomination of "1000 TENGE" (silver) or "200 TENGE" (cupro-nickel) and the year of issue, "2023".
Around the design is the text denoting the issuer of the coin - "QAZAQSTAN ULTTYQ BANKI" (shown on the upper periphery) and NATIONAL BANK OF KAZAKHSTAN (shown on the lower periphery).
The specifications of the two Coin Variants are:
i) Silver Coin Variant:
Country: Republic of Khazakstan; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Denomination: 1,000 Tenge; Coin Theme: "Balakash Perch"; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 100.00 grams; Diameter/Size: 50.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Modifications: High Relief (HR); Mint: National Mint of Kazakhstan at their facilities in Oskemen, East Kazakhstan, on behalf of the National Bank; Concept and Design: The concept and design of both coins are the work and creation of Almat Bassenov, Chief Designer of the National Bank of Kazakhstan and Alexander Tranov, the General Director of the Kazakhstan Mint; Mintage: 500 pieces.
ii) Silver Coin Variant:
Country: Republic of Kazakhstan; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Denomination: 200 Tenge; Coin Theme: "Balakash Perch"; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 15.00 grams; Diameter/Size: 33.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof-like (Pl); Mint: National Mint of Kazakhstan at their facilities in Oskemen, East Kazakhstan, on behalf of the National Bank; Concept and Design: The concept and design of both coins are the work and creation of Almat Bassenov, Chief Designer of the National Bank of Kazakhstan and Alexander Tranov, the General Director of the Kazakhstan Mint; Mintage: 20,000 pieces.
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