African Animal Masks on new coin series

The design of the first coin features the head of an Elephant styled as though it is an African mask with a special incused rim of which features an African pattern to continue the theme, along with the animal’s name and value. The new series will feature the following African Animals:

• Elephant
• Rhino
• Lion
• Leopard
• Buffalo
• Meerkat

The obverse of all coins will bear the Coat of Arms of Sierra Leone.

Africa is home to an abundance of wildlife, including some of the world’s most famous fauna. These unique and incredible animals are impressive in their own right and should you be lucky enough to witness them in their natural habitat, it will remain with you for years to come. Unfortunately, as a result of poaching and hunting the chances of sighting these magnificent beings in action is rapidly diminishing, with 27% of the world’s endangered animals residing in Africa alone.

Many years ago, Africa posed as a welcoming habitat for its residents, with hundreds of thousands of Elephants wandering in nearly every region of the continent. However, today only a fraction of them remain, their once large territory has been reduced to only a few protected regions and they are under constant threat. Elephants are ecologically fundamental to Africa’s ecosystems, and without them catastrophic damage could be caused.

Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild and when you consider they spend up to 16 hours a day eating, it is easy to see why they are so large. Elephants are very communicative and sociable animals, using a wide range of sounds to converse with one another. These magnificent mammals play an essential role in balancing natural ecosystems throughout Africa. Due to their sheer size they are able to trample forests and dense grasslands, allowing for smaller species to co-exist.

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