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 | |
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 tiny 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 | |
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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See also |
Solomon Islands coins with special shapes made by PAMP (ordered by size / series / year): - 2 oz Silver, Ocean Predator - Great White Shark, 2021 - 2 oz Silver, Ocean Predator - Polar Bear, 2021 - 2 oz Silver, Ocean Predator - Killer Whale, 2022 - 2 oz Silver, Dinosaurs of North America - Tyrannosaurus Rex, 2021 - 2 oz Silver, Dinosaurs of North America - Stegosaurus, 2022 - 2 oz Silver, America the Free - Statue of Liberty, 2022 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Deep - Great White Shark, 2019 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Deep - Great Hammerhead Shark, 2020 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Deep - Tiger Shark, 2020 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Sky - Bald Eagle, 2019 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Sky - Red-Tailed Hawk, 2020 - 1 oz Silver, Hunters of the Sky - Horned Owl, 2020 - 1 oz Silver Coloured, Santa Claus, 2020 - 1 oz Silver Coloured, U.F.O., 2020 - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Giants of the Galápagos - Giant Seahorse, 2020 - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Giants of the Galápagos - Whale Shark, 2021 - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Giants of the Galápagos - Galápagos Tortoise, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Animals of Africa - African Elephant, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Animals of Africa - African Lion, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Animals of Africa - Nile Crocodile, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Animals of Africa - Black Rhino, 2022 - 1 oz Silver Coloured, Guitar Pick, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar - Surf Green Colour, 2022 - 1 oz Silver Coloured, Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar, 2021 - 1 oz Silver, Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar - Black Colour, 2021
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