| Coin | Silver Ounce 2019 Cash - Bengal Tiger |
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Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the popular silver ounce (1 oz silver) format, usually denominated as £1.
This premium bullion coin is part of the Cash Coin Collection featuring the Treasures of India, and has the Bengal Tiger as a representative of Indian Wildlife.
As the national animal of India, the tiger holds important meaning. For centuries, it has been a symbol of power, strength and grace, closely associated with bravery and valour. In Hindu mythology this majestic animal symbolises the possession of unlimited power. Officially known as Panthera tigris tigris, the Royal Bengal tiger represents strength, elegance and endurance.
Well protected in India, genetic research confirms this species of tiger arrived to the Indian subcontinent more than 12,000 years ago. While all tigers are considered endangered, the Bengal tiger is the most numerous of all subspecies with approximately 2,500 left in the wild. However, it remains under the constant threat of poaching. The creation of India’s tiger reserves in the 1970's helped stabilise its numbers but poaching in recent years has again put the Bengal tiger at risk.
The coins in the series are designed by Nick Martin, based on drawings of the animals by Veronica Mackinnon. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · ONE POUND · 2019 ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.
The background is patterned with a geometric motif. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse features a detailed image of a Bengal tiger, walking towards the viewer, against a strikingly patterned background.
Around the rim, the inscription ONE OUNCE · CASH · 999 SILVER. In this context, "cash" is a reference to the small coins issued by the (original) East India Company in India, denominated as "cash".
In the rim below left, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
ONE OUNCE · CASH · 999 SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: none (loose coin), or 18 coins in mint tube, or in a monster box of 25 tubes (450 coins). |
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| See also |
Coins in the Saint Helena Treasures of India Wildlife ("Cash") series include:
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - Bengal Tiger, 2019
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - The Peacock, 2020
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - The Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - The Cobra, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - The Rhino, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, Indian Wildlife - The Macaque, 2023
- 5 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Cobra, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Rhino, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Macaque, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - Bengal Tiger, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Peacock, 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Elephant, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Cobra, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Rhino, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Indian Wildlife - The Macaque, 2023
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