Owner Comments:
NGC shows only one graded at PF69 with zero in higher grades at this time.
This beautiful 1 ounce silver coin is the first release in the new NIGHT ANIMALS series and features one of China’s most endangered species - the Red Panda. Maximum mintage is 499 pieces.
The black proof coin has a stunning relief thanks to the the application of CIT & BH Mayers’ superb SmartMinting technology.
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also called the lesser panda, the red bear-cat, and the red cat-bear, is a mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs; it is slightly larger than a domestic cat. It is arboreal, feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds, and insects.
On this coin you see a Red Panda walking towards the viewer is a fine rendition that looks spot on for appearance and does a good job of filling the coin without looking like it’s been squeezed into the shape. Framed on both sides by bamboo, the use of colour on only the panda itself does a fine job of making it stand out from its ‘habitat’. The coin title and date are inscribed on this face, but are both quite innocuous as they’re coloured to match the background surrounding them. Issued for Cook Islands, the obverse obviously carries the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by the usual coin inscriptions. This face is also finished as a black proof and has a moon and starry night sky struck in it – a nice touch.
The Cook Islands is a nation in the South Pacific, with political links to New Zealand. Its 15 islands are scattered over a vast area. The largest island, Rarotonga, is home to rugged mountains and Avarua, the national capital. To the north, Aitutaki Island has a vast lagoon encircled by coral reefs and small, sandy islets. The country is renowned for its many snorkeling and scuba-diving sites. ― Google
Capital: Avarua District
Area: 91.39 mi²
ISO code: COK
Population: 17,459 (2016)
Currencies: New Zealand Dollar, Cook Islands dollar
Official languages: Rarotongan, Pukapukan language, English
Pictures are NGC HighRES photos. Adobe Photoshop elements was used to remove any digital artifacts.