| Coin | Silver Ounce 2020 Extinct Predators - Phorusrhacidae |
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo normally uses banknotes for circulation, and does not issue coins in the Congolese Franc currency. However, the country has authorised some foreign mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction.
Most of them are in standard bullion sizes, including one ounce of silver - such as this coin.
This coin is part of the Extinct Predators Series, and is dedicated to the Phorusrhacidae (Phorusrhacos longissimus).
Colloquially known as terror birds, these carnivorous flightless birds were the largest species of apex predators in South America during the Cenozoic era; their conventionally accepted temporal range covers from 62 to 1.8 million years ago.
They ranged in height from 1 to 3 m and scientists theorise that the larger species were extremely nimble and quick runners, able to reach speeds of 48 km/h. All members possessed a large, sharp beak, a powerful neck and sharp talons. However, even with these attributes, the phorusrhacids are often assumed to have preyed on relatively small animals (rabbit sized) that could be dispatched with minimum struggle.
The bones of the beak were tightly fused together, making the beak more resilient to force from the front to back direction, suggesting it could cause great harm through pecking as opposed to side-to-side head movements like shaking prey. Generally speaking, it is thought that a terror bird would use its feet to injure prey by kicking it, and to hold the prey down and dispatch by pecking at it with its large beak. |
| Mint | AllCollect |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
8,000
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| Obverse | |
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Within a beaded border, the obverse of the coin depicts the Coat of Arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which consists of a leopard head surrounded by an elephant tusk to the left and a spear to the right. On a ribbon below, the national motto JUSTICE PAIX TRAVAIL (from French: Justice, Peace, Work).
Around above, the name of the country: REPUBLIQUE DEMOCATIQUE DU CONGO.
Around below, the nominal face value of the coin: · 20 FRANCS ·. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design features a "terror bird".
In the background, a circle with a mirror-polished surface; around above in that circle, the inscription: PREDATORS · PHORUSRHACIDAE, below which separated by a double line, - EXTINCT -. In the left field, along the rim of the mirror circle, the date of issue 2020.
The rest of the surface has a textured background with impressions of fossils. A fossil bird skull is part in the polished circle and part on the textured background.
in small letters around below, the precious metal content: .999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
PREDATORS · PHORUSRHACIDAE - EXTINCT - 2020 .999 FINE SILVER 1 OZ |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant uncirculated).
Packaging: in protective capsule.
The Extinct Predators Series is a continuation (or a "prequel" of a kind) of the Predators Series, produced and distributed by German company AllCollect; the coins are probably struck by the Bavarian Central Mint, but there are no certificates that name a manufacturer. Unlike the Predators Series though, there is no information about this one on the company's web site. The coins are released exclusively through APMEX.
The "main" coins in the series are silver ounces issued for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; there are also "companion coins": a half-gram of gold with a similar reverse, issued for Senegal. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Extinct Predators series include:
- 1 oz Silver, Spinosaurus, Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Spinosaurus, Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Megalodon, Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Megalodon, Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Mosasaurus, Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Mosasaurus, Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Phorusrhacidae ("Terror Birds"), Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Phorusrhacidae ("Terror Birds"), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Smilodon (Sabre-toothed Tiger), Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Smilodon (Sabre-toothed Tiger), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Thylacoleo Carnifex (Marsupial Lion), Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Thylacoleo Carnifex (Marsupial Lion), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Dusicyon Australis (Falkland Islands Wolf), Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Dusicyon Australis (Falkland Islands Wolf), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Varanus Priscus (Megalania), Congo 2020
- 0.5 g Gold, Varanus Priscus (Megalania), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Phelsuma Gigas (Giant Gecko), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Phelsuma Gigas (Giant Gecko), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Megateuthis Gigantea (Giant Squid), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Megateuthis Gigantea (Giant Squid), Senegal 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Ursus Spelaeus (Cave Bear), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Ursus Spelaeus (Cave Bear), Senegal 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Titanoboa, Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Titanoboa, Senegal 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Thylacinus Cynocephalus (Tasmanian Tiger), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Thylacinus Cynocephalus (Tasmanian Tiger), Senegal 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Pterygotus ("Sea scorpion"), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Pterygotus ("Sea scorpion"), Senegal 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Puijila Darwini (Seal), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Puijila Darwini (Seal), Senegal 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Pteranodon (Flying reptile), Congo 2021
- 0.5 g Gold, Pteranodon (Flying reptile), Senegal 2022
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