This 3-Dimensional 1,000 Francos legal tender proof silver coin was struck under athority of the Government of Equatorial Guinea from 25 grams of .925 silver for an Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of .7435 ounces of pure silver. Total mintage was limited to 2,500 coins. It comes as shown in a wood presentation case with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Palau – Prism Butterfly – Green Graphium agamemnon – $1 – 2008 – Proof – The black and green Graphium agamemnon, also called Tailed Jay or Green Spotted Triangle butterfly. This butterfly belongs to the family of Papilionidae as well and is identifiable by its characteristic hind wing tail. The special prism technique emphasizes the butterflies colors and patterns.
China – Brazilian Morpho Colored Butterfly Medallion – Proof – 2009 – Series II – The first set of four butterfly medallions was issued by the People’s Republic of China in 2005 and can be found on our website. This set was issued recently and would make a great gift for any collector of lepidoptera or world coins. I was not able to identify the species involved, but one of our clients, Mark Schmidt, was able to provide identification as the Brazilian Morpho (Morpho Aega).
China – “88” Colored Butterfly Medallion – Proof – 2009 – Series II – The first set of four butterfly medallions was issued by the People’s Republic of China in 2005 and can be found on our website. This set was issued recently and would make a great gift for any collector of lepidoptera or world coins. I was not able to identify the species involved, but one of our clients, Mark Schmidt, was able to provide identification as the “88”Butterfly (Diaethria clymena).
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Tsetse Fly – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Tsetse flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals. Tsetse have been extensively studied because of their disease transmission. Fossilized tsetse have been recovered from the Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado, supposedly laid down some 34 million years ago. Diseases transmitted by tsetse flies kill 250,000–300,000 people per year.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – African Killer Bee – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Africanized honey bees, known colloquially as “killer bees,” are some hybrid varieties of the Western honey bee species, (Apis mellifera), produced originally by cross-breeding of the African honey bee with various European honey bees such as the Italian bee and the Iberian bee. The hybrid bees are far more aggressive than any of the various European subspecies. Small swarms of Africanized bees are capable of taking over European honey bee hives by invading the hive and establishing their own queen after killing the European queen. In October 2010, a 73-year-old man was killed by a swarm of Africanized honey bees while clearing brush on his South Georgia property, as determined by Georgia’s Department of Agriculture.
Niue – Large Blue Butterfly – Maculinea arion – $1 – 2011 – Colored Proof Silver Crown w/ COA
Vanuatu – Butterfly – Taenaris catops – 10 Vatu – 2006 – Colored Legal Tender Coin – This coin measures 39 millimeters in diameter and weighs 26 grams.
Set of 9 Coins – Nine bug coins featuring the Redback Spider, Praying Mantis, Dragonfly, Bull Ant, Blowfly, Ladybug, Cicada, Birdwing Butterfly and Grasshopper. We’re proud to bring you this extremely high quality album produced by the Perth Mint, which both protects the coins and presents them in an attractive and educational format. The album is hardbound, with superior, solid construction, while inside each coin is protected in a special capsule holder that keeps it pristine, but still allows for easy access.
China – Female Yellow Pansy Colored Butterfly Medallion – Proof – 2009 – Series II – The first set of four butterfly medallions was issued by the People’s Republic of China in 2005 and can be found on our website. This set was issued recently and would make a great gift for any collector of lepidoptera or world coins. I was not able to identify the species involved, but one of our clients, Mark Schmidt, was able to provide identification as the Female Yellow Pansy(Precis (Juniona) hierta).
Jewelry – Swallowtail Butterfly Pin “66” – 1 11/2″ by 1 1/2″ .
Palau – Prism Butterfly – Orange Hebomoia leucippe – $1 – 2008 – Proof – The orange Hebomoia leucippe who belongs to the family of Pieridae, the blue dazzling Papilio pericles who belongs to the family of Swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae) and the black and green Graphium agamemnon who is also called Tailed Jay. This butterfly belongs to the family of Papilionidae as well and is identifiable by its characteristic hind wing tail. The special prism technique emphasizes the butterflies colors and patterns.�
I’ve tried to capture the beautiful gossamer wings of butterflies and dragonflies in illustrations before and I find it impossible to truly replicate them. Even in photography one can’t capture the flash of color as they flutter about. Well, I was startled to see that the designer of these coins got it. The use of the Prism applique technique works perfectly to recreate that flitting, glinting impression we associate with these wonderful creatures in flight. I never would have expected it in a coin. If you’re a collector of world coins with a place in your collection for creatures of such gentle beauty then this proof-like world coin with a Prism applique butterfly is a must!
This is one of four beautiful butterfly coins I was able to purchase at a show in San Francisco a few months ago. I really can’t tell you much about the pieces except that they have been very popular with our eBay customers and I’m sure they will continue to be a favorite among Lepidoptera fanciers.
This is one of four beautiful butterfly coins I was able to purchase at a show in San Francisco a few months ago. I really can’t tell you much about the pieces except that they have been very popular with our eBay customers and I’m sure they will continue to be a favorite among Lepidoptera fanciers.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Scorpion – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger. The scorpion has a fearsome reputation as venomous, and about 25 species are known to have venom capable of killing a human being.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Mosquito – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies: the Culicidae. Although a few species are harmless or even useful to humanity, most are a nuisance because they suck blood from vertebrates, many of them attacking humans. In feeding on blood, various species of mosquitoes transmit some of the most harmful human and livestock diseases. Some authorities argue accordingly that mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals on earth.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Asian Giant Hornet – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica), colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world’s largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia. Its body length is approximately 2 inches, its wingspan about 3 inches and it has a 0.2 inch sting which injects a large amount of potent venom.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Black Widow Spider – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Latrodectus is a genus of spider, in the family Theridiidae, which contains 32 recognized species. The common name widow spiders is sometimes applied to members of the genus due to the behavior of the female of eating the male after mating, although sometimes the males of some species are not eaten after mating, and can go on to fertilize other females. The black widow spiders are perhaps the best-known members of the genus. The injection of neurotoxic venom latrotoxin from these species is a comparatively dangerous spider bite, resulting in the condition latrodectism, named for the genus. The female black widow’s bite is particularly harmful to humans because of its unusually large venom glands; however, Latrodectus bites rarely kill human beings if their wounds are given medical treatment. The prevalence of sexual cannibalism in Latrodectus by a female spider has inspired the common name “black widow spider”. The female Latrodectus most of the time eat their male Latrodectus partners after mating. The clue to this fact is due to the potency of venom in female species, which is at least three times more potent than that of the males. Therefore, even if a male bites in self defense while being himself bitten by the female, he would succumb to his death more rapidly and has therefore more chance of being eaten. The Researchers at the University of Hamburg in Germany found that male orb-web spiders make this ultimate evolutionary sacrifice for the good health of his offspring.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Jumper Ant – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Jack Jumper Ant (Myrmecia pilosula), is a species of bull ant that is native to Australia. These ants are black or red and black, and may have yellow or orange legs, antennae and mandibles. Jack Jumper ants are carnivores and scavengers. They sting their victims with venom that is similar to stings of wasps, bees, and fire ants. Their venom is one of the most powerful in the insect world. Jack Jumper ants are proven hunters; even wasps are hunted and devoured. These ants have excellent vision, which aids them in hunting. The symptoms of the stings of the ants are similar to stings of the fire ants. The reaction is local swelling and reddening, and fever, followed by formation of a blister. The heart rate increases, and blood pressure falls rapidly. In individuals allergic to the venom (about 3% of cases), a sting sometimes causes anaphylactic shock. Although 3% may seem small, Jack Jumper ants cause more deaths in Tasmania than spiders, snakes, wasps, and sharks combined.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Bullet Ant – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), named on account of its powerful and potent sting, which is said to be as painful as being shot with a bullet. It inhabits humid lowland rainforests from Nicaragua south to Paraguay. The bullet ant is called “Hormiga Veinticuatro” or “24 hour ant” by the locals, referring to the 24 hours of pain that follow being stung. The pain caused by this insect’s sting is purported to be greater than that of any other Hymenopteran, and is ranked as the most painful according to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, given a “4+” rating, above the tarantula hawk wasp. It is described as causing “waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours”.
Zambia – Deadly Insects – Red Harvester Ant – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) is a large ant common in the southwest United States. Red harvester ants can be aggressive, and have a painful sting that spreads through the lymph nodes, sometimes causing reactions, especially in animals allergic to their venom. They can also bite ferociously.
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