| Coin | Silver Kilo 2019 Giants of the Ice Age - Woolly Mammoth |
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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, including in the very large one kilogram of silver format (abbreviated as 1 kg Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum).
The Woolly Mammoth is the first 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 woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) lived during the Pleistocene until its extinction in the early Holocene epoch. It was broadly similar in size to the African Elephant with males hitting shoulder heights of 3.4 m, and weights of 6 tons. Females reached 2.9 m and 4 tons. Adapted to the cold with a thick, two-layer fur covering, they had small ears and tail to guard against frostbite and heat loss. Tusks were huge and curved.
Their diet consisted of sedges and grasses, the predominant vegetation on the Mammoth Steppe, which covered northern Eurasia and North America. They lived as long as sixty years. They only disappeared around 10,000 years ago, although some populations were still present on St Paul Island as recent as 5,600 years ago and on Wrangel Island 4,000 years ago. Remains are common, and include frozen corpses that are almost complete. |
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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: 1000 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 woolly mammoth walking to left, partly obscuring the rim below right.
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 KG AG 999 (one kilogram of 99.9% silver; Ag is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver).
Around below left, the unique serial number of each coin in the format [number] / 1000, followed by the date of issue 2019.
Around above, a common element of all designs in the series: eight pictograms representing each of the Giants of the Ice Age designs. The woolly mammoth is the first 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 KG AG 999 [number] / 1000 2019 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated, engraved with a unique serial number.
Packaging: in capsule, 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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