| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Galápagos Tortoise |
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Apart from its regular circulating coinage, Solomon Islands has authorised a number of private mints to issue collector coins in precious metals, which are legal tender in the country but are not intended for general circulation. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes - typically, one ounce of silver (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). These are usually dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to the country itself.
The Mint says about this coin:
The Galápagos Tortoise is the final coin in the Giants of the Galápagos Islands series. This animal lives longer than any other vertebrate. The average lifespan is 100 years with the oldest recorded Giant Tortoise living to the age of 152! When Charles Darwin visited in 1835 there were 15 types of Giant Tortoises on the Islands but due to being hunted as food by travellers passing through - whalers, traders and even pirates - today there are only 10 types of this amazing creature left in the Galápagos Islands.
The muted green and brown colouring of this long-lived giant are accented on this coin upon an engraved background. Limited mintage of 2,500 coins per issue and individually serialised. |
| Mint | PAMP |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
2,500
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: ELIZABETH II SOLOMON ISLANDS 2 DOLLARS 2021.
Around the portrait, parts of the landscape continuing that from the reverse.
Below the date, the unique serial number of the coin. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse depicts, in colour, a giant Galápagos Tortoise in its natural habitat; parts of it extend beyond the coin's traditional circular edge.
Around above, the inscription GIANTS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS; around below, 999.9 SILVER 1 TROY OUNCE. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
GIANTS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS 999.9 SILVER 1 TROY OUNCE |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: the coin is sealed in a custom shaped capsule and housed in an attractive display folder, which is printed with a Certificate of Authenticity as well as fun facts about the Galapagos Islands and its protected creatures.
PAMP SKU: S-MKS-1GALAPATORTOISE |
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