Silver Investment Coin 1 Kg Ice Age Giants - Saber Tooth Tiger 2020

Giants of the Ice Age - Saber-toothed cat

Minted at the German mint Leipziger Edelmetallverarbeitung GmbH in 2020, this 1 kilogram silver investment coin in the purest 99.9% silver purity is part of the Giants of the Ice Age series, which introduces eight Ice Age giants over four years. The second coin in the series features the sabre-toothed tiger (Machairodontinae) as the third coin in the series.

The reverse of the coin depicts a sabre-toothed tiger against the backdrop of an open grassy steppe. In a crouched position, it is ready to attack its prey with a strike of its long curved fangs. The coin's motif is complemented by the series name "GIANTS OF THE ICE AGE", weight and fineness. The outer rim of the coin features silhouettes of all eight animals of the series in order of issue. The sabre-toothed tiger motif is recessed and accentuated by the polished design, while the silhouettes of the other animals rise above the surface of the coin. The year of issue and the individual serial number of the coin, which corresponds to the marking on the certificate, are shown at the bottom.

The obverse shows the national emblem of the Republic of Ghana, while the lower part of the coin bears the inscription 'REPUBLIC OF GHANA' and the face value.

The coin comes in a plastic capsule along with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 1,000 pieces for the whole world!

Saber-toothed cats, scientifically inaccurately called saber-toothed tigers, are members of the extinct subfamily Machairodontinae. Many tribes of sabre-toothed cats evolved independently around the world as early as 13 million years ago. A typical feature of saber-toothed tibiae are the long curved fangs used to capture and kill prey. The longest canines, measuring up to 28 cm, have been found in the youngest genus, Smilodon, which became extinct around 10,000 years ago. The size of its canines was matched by its mouth, which could open almost twice as wide as today's lions. It hunted large herbivores, which it brought down with a quick leap and killed by biting through the carotid artery or windpipe. Smilodon became extinct at the end of the Ice Age due to climate change and the decline in food of its natural prey. The robust body on short, strong limbs was not adapted to chase smaller and more agile animals, nor to long battles.

This product is part of the following product sets: