Mother of Pearl series - lunar calendar
In the world of numismatics, coins from the free Mother of Pearl series have been consistently popular products since their introduction. They combine the solid weight of the 5 Oz precious metal and a luxurious mother-of-pearl inlay with an elaborate 45 mm diameter motif. In addition to special themes commemorating milestones in the progress of mankind, coins dedicated to the zodiac sign of the Chinese lunar calendar are also released annually .
"Mother of Pearl"
The coins in this series go through a lengthy and sophisticated production process. The mother-of-pearl is extracted from the shells of the world's largest pearlfish (sea pearl), the Pinctada Maxima, which can grow up to 30 cm in diameter. The oysters are farmed on pearl farms in perfectly isolated areas of the oceans off the coasts of Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, Indonesia and the Philippines. Their shells have a very thick inner shell made up of pearl. It takes up to 12 weeks to select the most beautiful pearl shells for the Mother of Pearl series. They are then shaped to the desired form and ultrasonic waves are used to create a motif that is worked out in minute detail. To achieve the individual colouring, the pearl is soaked in a bath with the appropriate colour for a further 5 weeks. The mother-of-pearl core is then inserted into the coin using a complicated technical process.
