THE DESIGN

The LION is the second cat to be portrayed in this theme. A long maned superior male and his alpha female are royally portrayed in a classic setting on the obverse of the 4 coins. The reverses feature the pride (family) in various scenes of their daily lives.

The obverse common to all four coins that make up the set was modelled by Master Engraver, Arthur Sutherland, now retired after 40 illustrious years as engraver and chief engraver with the South African Mint. It is fitting that such an historical career be crowned with his last work – this Royal Family of the animal kingdom.

THE ANIMAL

The lion is undoubtedly Africa’s King of the Beasts. Aside from their sheer power, the strength achieved through family alliances leaves them unmatched as a group. Lions are the only significantly social cats and the bond enjoyed in the pride (family), offers not only communal defense but also the opportunity to breed successfully. Lionesses form the core of the pride and by combining their strength; they are often able to repel foreign males in the temporary absence of the pride’s males thereby providing security to their cubs. Females produce cubs every three years and pride lionesses often reproduce in synchrony. The cubs remain dependent on their mother’s milk up to eight or nine months, although they generally start feeding on meat from approximately from three months of age. Males are ousted from the pride at around three years of age and often join forces with other males in search of their own territories.

COIN SPECIFICATIONS The Natura legal tender coins are issued as singles or in sets in limited edition and PROOF quality only.

ARTIST

Natanya van Niekerk – Marketing Manager and chief artist at the South African Mint has designed “The Lion” in the “Wild Cats of Africa” series.

ENGRAVERS 

The obverse design for the four coins was engraved by the South African Mint’s chief die-engraver, Arthur Sutherland. South African Mint resident die-engravers, Paul Botes, Aldrid Minnie and Marthinus Scheepers engraved the reverse for the R50, R20 and R10, 2003 Natura gold coins.

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