Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Extinct Predators - Pteranodon |
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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 Pteranodon.
Pteranodon is a genus of pterosaur that included some of the largest known flying reptiles, with wingspans over 7 meters. They lived during the late Cretaceous period of North America. More fossil specimens of Pteranodon have been found than any other pterosaur, with about 1,200 specimens known to science, many of them well-preserved with nearly complete skulls and articulated skeletons.
Pteranodon was a pterosaur, meaning that it isn’t a dinosaur, but were the largest flying animals known until the late 20th century, when the giant azhdarchid pterosaurs were discovered. The wingspan of an average adult male was 5.6 meters, with females averaging 3.8 meter. The wing shape of Pteranodon suggests that it would have flown rather like a modern-day albatross.
Pteranodon had toothless beaks, similar to those of birds, made of solid, bony margins that projected from the base of the jaws. The beaks were long, slender, and ended in thin, sharp points. The most distinctive characteristic of Pteranodon is its cranial crest, consisting of skull bones projecting upward and backward from the skull. The diet of Pteranodon is known to have included fish. |
Mint | AllCollect |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage | 8,000 |
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Obverse | |
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 | |
The reverse design features a Pteranodon in flight.
In the background, a circle with a mirror-polished surface; around above in that circle, the inscription: PREDATORS · PTERANODON, below which separated by a double line, - EXTINCT -. In the left part of the mirror circle, the date of issue 2021.
The rest of the surface has a textured background with impressions of fossils. A fossil bone 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 · PTERANODON - EXTINCT - 2021 .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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