| Coin | Gold Ounce 2022 Giants of the Ice Age - Cave Lion |
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The Ghanaian Cedi has been the currency of Ghana since 1965, when it replaced the pre-decimal Ghanaian Pound.
Apart from the regular circulating coinage, the country has also authorised some foreign mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction. These are typically in standard bullion sizes, such as one ounce of gold (abbreviated as 1 oz Au, where "Au" comes from the Latin word for gold, Aurum).
The Cave Lion is the eighth and final design in the Giants of the Ice Age coin series, which features eight large pre-historic animals; each coin in the series was issued in three different formats. The series was produced by German company Auragentum, with the coins struck by Leipziger Edelmetallverarbeitung (a division of Geiger Edelmetalle).
The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) evolved from P. fossilis about 460,000 years ago in central Europe during the late Saalian glaciation or early Eemian and would have been common throughout Eurasia from 450,000 to 13,000 years ago, when it went extinct.
Analysis of fossil bone samples revealed that it was highly distinct and genetically isolated from the modern lion (Panthera leo) occurring in Africa and Central Asia. Panthera spelaea is thought to have been one of the largest lion species. The skeleton of an adult male found in 1985 near Siegsdorf in Germany had a shoulder height of around 1.2 m and a head-body length of 2.1 m without the tail, similar in size to large modern lions, and larger examples have been found, with the heaviest estimated to weigh 339 kg.
The cave lion was probably predominantly found in open habitats such as steppe and grasslands, although it would also have occurred in open woodlands as well. It was one of the keystone species of the mammoth steppe, being one of the main apex predators alongside grey wolf, cave hyena and brown bear. Cave bear cubs, reindeer and other cervids were prominent in the diet of cave lions. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows at its centre the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Ghana. It has a a shield, quartered with a large cross in the middle; in the first quarter (upper left) is a sword used by traditional chiefs, and a staff used by the linguist (known as an okyeame in Akan), at ceremonies - a symbol for the traditional authority of Ghana; in the second quarter, a representation of Osu Castle on the sea, the presidential palace on the Gulf of Guinea, as a symbol of the national government; in the third quarter is a cocoa tree, a symbol of the agricultural wealth of Ghana; the fourth quarter shows a gold mine, which stands for the richness of industrial minerals and natural resources in Ghana.
A lion in the middle of St George's Cross represents the continuing link between Ghana and the Commonwealth of Nations. The crest is a Black Star of Africa. Supporting the shield are two Tawny eagles, with the Order of the Star of Ghana suspended from their necks. The compartment upon which the supporters stand is composed of a grassy field, under which a scroll bears the national motto of Ghana: FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
In the exergue, the name of the country: REPUBLIC OF GHANA, below which the face value: 500 CEDIS.
The rim around above is wide and is decorated with wide radial stripes. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design depicts a snarling cave lion walking to left, its body partly obscuring the rim.
Around above in the central circle, the name of the coin series: GIANTS OF THE ICE AGE.
On two lines below left, the metal content: 1 OZ AU 999.9 (one troy ounce of 99.99% gold; Au is abbreviated from Aurum, the Latin word for gold).
Around below left, the unique serial number of each coin in the format [number] / 1000, followed by the date of issue 2022.
Around above, a common element of all designs in the series: eight pictograms representing each of the Giants of the Ice Age designs. The cave lion is the last of them and is highlighted by being incuse (cut into the surface) while the others are in relief. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
GIANTS OF THE ICE AGE 1 OZ AU 999.9 [number] / 1000 2022 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, engraved with a unique serial number.
Packaging: in capsule and presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Giants of the Ice Age series include:
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Woolly Mammoth, 2019
- 1 kg Silver BU, Woolly Mammoth, 2019
- 1 oz Silver BU, Woolly Mammoth, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Irish Elk, 2019
- 1 kg Silver BU, Irish Elk, 2019
- 1 oz Silver BU, Irish Elk, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Smilodon (Sabre-toothed Tiger), 2020
- 1 kg Silver BU, Smilodon (Sabre-toothed Tiger), 2020
- 1 oz Silver BU, Smilodon (Sabre-toothed Tiger), 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Cave Bear, 2020
- 1 kg Silver BU, Cave Bear, 2020
- 1 oz Silver BU, Cave Bear, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Woolly Rhinoceros, 2021
- 1 kg Silver BU, Woolly Rhinoceros, 2021
- 1 oz Silver BU, Woolly Rhinoceros, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Aurochs, 2021
- 1 kg Silver BU, Aurochs, 2021
- 1 oz Silver BU, Aurochs, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Reindeer, 2022
- 1 kg Silver BU, Reindeer, 2022
- 1 oz Silver BU, Reindeer, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Cave Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Silver BU, Cave Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver BU, Cave Lion, 2022
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