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Palau - Hunters By Night Series (Python)
The Republic of Palau’s popular Hunters By Night coin series celebrates some of the world’s most distinctive nocturnal predators. The first two entries paid tribute to the panther and the eagle owl, and the latest features the python. More specifically, it features the black-headed python, an Australian species in this multi-continental group of ambush predators known for taking their prey with sharp, hooked fangs and constricting them in their powerful coils.
Australia’s black-headed python is one of the most fascinating members of the vast group of python species whose hunting grounds spread across multiple continents. They evolved not only for nocturnal hunting, but for daytime heat management: the snake merely needs to have its head poked out in the morning sunlight to warm its whole body. Known also by the taxonomic name ASPIDITES MELANOCEPHALUS, this python’s striking matte-black head inspires the stunning design of the latest coin in the Hunters By Night series.
The 2022 Palau Silver Hunters By Night Python Coin is a creation of SmartMinting technology that makes possible its amazing obsidian-black, proof-quality finish, and strikingly realistic artwork.
Limited mintage of only 888 coins!
The obverse side features an ultra high-relief sculpture of a black python’s head, extruding from the coin as if emerging from its surface with its tongue flickering and riveting red-gold eyes staring. The snake’s scaled body forms a backdrop.
The coin’s reverse side features an engraving of the Republic of Palau’s “Rainbow’s End” emblem surrounded by silk-finish decorative touches that show the rocks of the Australian wilderness and the starry sky above. It features the inscriptions “Republic of Palau,” “Hunters By Night,” and “10$” for the face value.
Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean. Koror Island is home to the former capital, also named Koror, and is the islands’ commercial center. The larger Babeldaob has the present capital, Ngerulmud, plus mountains and sandy beaches on its east coast. In its north, ancient basalt monoliths known as Badrulchau lie in grassy fields surrounded by palm trees. ― Google
Capital: Ngerulmud
Dialing code: +680
Population: 18,024 (2021)
World Bank
Currency: United States Dollar
Continent: Oceania
Official languages: Palauan, English
Photos taken with Nikon D3300 DSL Camera with attached AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G lens. Adobe Photoshop Elements used to fix any digital artifacts.