Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Prehistoric Life - Woolly Mammoth |
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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 the fourth issue in the Prehistoric Life series of premium bullion and collector coins, and features the Woolly Mammoth.
The woolly mammoth lived in the Old and Middle Pleistocene - about 800,000 to 600,000 years ago - and occurred mainly in Siberia, northern Eurasia, and North America. The widespread distribution of woolly mammoths is accompanied by numerous finds of skeletons and mummified carcasses, so that the appearance and lifestyle of the prehistoric giants could be reconstructed very comprehensively. Male specimens reached an average shoulder height of 2.7 to 3.4 meters and a considerable weight of up to 8 tons. The name of the woolly mammoth derives from its fur, the hair of which could grow up to 90 cm long. |
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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).
Below the Coat of Arms, in small letters the precious metal of the coin: 1 oz Ag 999.9 (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver; Ag is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver).
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 depicts a woolly mammoth being harassed by Stone Age hunters. Above the dramatic scene are the inscriptions WOOLLY MAMMOTH and 0.8 MIO YEARS - 1.800 YEARS BC (i.e. the species lived from about 800,000 until about 1,800 years ago), and the year of issue 2021.
Around above in the rim, the name of the series: PREHISTORIC LIFE.
The rim around below is decorated like the markings of a stopwatch, with periods of Earth's history marked along it: CRETACEOUS 145 - 66 MIO. YEARS BC on the left, TERTIARY 66 - 2.6 MIO. YEARS BC below, and QUATERNARY 2.6 MIO. YEARS BC - TODAY on the right. |
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Reverse Inscription |
PREHISTORIC LIFE WOOLLY MAMMOTH 0.8 MIO YEARS - 1.800 YEARS BC 2021 |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated. Packaging: individual coin in protective capsule, or 20 coins in mint tube. |
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