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.
2003
- "The Lion" |
Face
Value |
Maximum
Mintage |
Theme |
R100 1 oz |
1500 |
Head of a
male lion |
R100 1 oz |
500 |
Head of a
male lion (mintmark
Lion
Park) |
R50 ½ oz |
1500 |
Confrontation |
R20 ¼ oz |
2000 |
Lioness
with cubs |
R10 1/10
oz |
3000 |
Drinking
water |
4 COIN
SET - Prestige |
700 |
|
4 COIN
SET - Proof |
1000 |
|
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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