Owner Comments:
"Two Peacocks" - Peafowl have an average lifespan of 20 years in the wild. Their bodies are 35 to 50 inches in length but the tail of the male can be up to 5 ft long. They weigh only 8.75 to 13 pounds, making them rather light for their size (relative to humans). Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. They are such tame and social animals that they can usually wander unrestrained around zoos. Peacocks can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. So the two coins featured on this coin are both males. Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations. Peacock feathers have long been a major fashion accessory, which placed the peacock in danger from poachers. That fad has faded along with many others that have endangered other animals like the ostrich and the emu. From one source, the term “train” comes from the similarity that the folded tail bears to the long train of a bride’s gown. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. A peacock is one of the largest flying birds when the combined length of the train and large wingspan are considered. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains. Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. Wild peafowl often roost in forest trees to avoid night-time predators and gather in groups called parties. The peahens have much more subdued coloring which allows them to blend in with their surroundings while caring for young. The males show no interest in child rearing duties.
Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.
In addition to their beauty, peafowl were once raised for food both by the Romans and in Medieval Europe. They were saved from this fate when turkeys began to be imported from the New World. Since a turkey is a meatier bird, it replaced the peacock as a food item. Today they are mostly just admired for their spectacular appearance.
The species has inspired phrases like “pretty as a peacock” and “proud as a peacock.”
I look at the design of this coin, and wonder what the birds must be thinking. I imagine them sizing each other up. One peacock is displaying its feathers. Has one bird invaded the other's territory? Are they competing for the attention of some local females? How does the other peacock respond to the display of the first? Would the two males fight or just strut? Overall, I find it a truly interesting, dynamic and beautiful design. The design simultaneously shows peacocks with the train on display in the signature fan-like shape, and trailing behind the bird in a less showy fashion.