2016 Natura Prestige Set, Coin Set from South Africa - detailed information

The prestige set is comprised of all four gold coins in the 2016 Natura range: the R100 1oz, R50 1/2oz, R20 1/4oz and the R10 1/10oz.

A new theme in the Natura coin series, Nocturnal hunters, was introduced in 2014. The first predator to feature on the coins was the leopard, followed by the black-backed jackal in 2015. The year 2016 sees the final addition to this theme: the spotted (or laughing) hyena (Crocuta crocuta).

The hyena has an extensive vocal range: whoops, fast whoops, grunts, groans, lows, giggles, yells, growls, soft grunt-laughs, whines and soft squeals. Its loud "who-oop" call and its unusual laughter are one of the most recognisable sounds of the African bush at night. The pitch of the laugh indicates the hyena’s age, while variations in the frequency of notes convey information about its social rank.

The reverse of each of the four pure-gold coins depicts a different aspect of the hyena’s behaviour.