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2016 Pitcairn Islands $2 Whales of the Southern Ocean - Blue Whale 1 oz. Fine Silver Coin, minted by the New Zealand Mint (TAX Exempt) The blue whale was named for its colour, a bluish-grey that looks aquamarine under the water.
It can measure 33m, weigh up to 200 tonnes and live for 90 years. It filter-feeds on krill and can consume 3,600kg a day, using throat pleats that help hold more water and thus, more food.
A blue whale can dive up to 30 minutes at a time and descend to depths of 500m. Dives are separated by 8-15 "blows" - a powerful 6m blast of water as thick as a man's arm.
Blue whales hold just about every record for animal size - a human to a whale is like a mouse to a human. Its tongue alone would overload a good sized truck and a child could crawl down its main artery! In spite of its bulk, it can swim at over 30km/h - usually alone or in pairs.
Its conservation status is classified as endangered after nearly being driven to extinction through intensive hunting.
INTERESTING FACT
Another impressive statistic about blue whales is the loudness of the sounds that they make. Although humans can't hear it a blue whale makes a very deep low-pitched sound that can be heard at a distance of over 800km and has been recorded as high as 188 decibels - far and away the loudest sound made by any animal. By comparison a passenger jet at take-off makes a noise that is 120 decibels!
The Blue Whale - 1 oz Silver Coin is part of the Whales of the Southern Ocean coin series from New Zealand Mint.
The coin reverse features an engraving of the gigantic blue whale, clearly showing its throat pleats, set against the blue of the Southern Ocean.
Individually packaged in a perspex coin case, it fits neatly inside its ocean themed outer packaging. The uniquely numbered Certificate of Authenticity is contained within the packaging.
In keeping with this coin series, the country of issue is Pitcairn - an island group in the South Pacific Ocean.
With a worldwide mintage of only 2,000, this would make a special gift for animal enthusiasts and coin collectors.
- Specifications
Metal: 999 Fine Silver
Weight: 1 Troy oz
Finish: Proof/Coloured
Diameter: 40mm (Nominal)
Edge: Milled
Denomination: $2
Year: 2016
Mintage: 2,000
Effigy: Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Country: Pitcairn Islands
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