Silver Investment Coin Ice Age Giants - Rhinoceros 1 Oz 2021

Giants of the Ice Age - Woolly Rhinoceros

Minted at the German mint Leipziger Edelmetallverarbeitung GmbH in 2021, this 1 Oz (31.1 g) investment silver 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 fifth coin in the series features the woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis).

The reverse of the coin depicts the form of the extinct woolly rhinoceros. The massive animal walks across a bare expanse of endless steppe. 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 rhinoceros 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 is indicated at the bottom edge of the coin.

The obverse shows the national emblem of the Republic of Ghana, the inscription 'REPUBLIC OF GHANA' and the denomination at the bottom of the coin.

The coin comes in a plastic capsule with a mintage of 15,000 pieces for the whole world!

The woolly rhinoceros was found in the steppe areas of northern Eurasia in the earlier Quaternary Pleistocene period. It became extinct at the end of the last Ice Age around 10 000 years ago, like other members of the so-called megafauna. Dramatic climate changes caused glaciation of the plains, pushing animals into an ever-shrinking space where food sources were running out.
The remains of the woolly rhinoceros were known even before they were scientifically described. In the Middle Ages, people used them to confirm the existence of mythical creatures. The horns were thought to be the claws of giant griffins or dragons. The first scientific report to examine skulls and horns came from a discovery in Siberia in 1769.
An adult woolly rhinoceros weighed between 1,800 and 2,700 kg. From head to tail, it measured between 3 and 3.8 m, which is about the size of a white rhinoceros. It was distinguished by its longer body on shorter legs. The skull was more elongated than in other rhinos. Both males and females grew two keratin horns on the front oblique. The longer front horn pointed forward up to 1 metre in length. The other horn was small and located directly between the animal's eyes. A prominent hump on the back served as a fat reservoir and also balanced the weight of the front horn. The reddish-brown coat consisted of a short, dense growth, which was covered by long guard hairs in the neck and withers.
The closest living relative of the woolly rhinoceros, based on DNA samples obtained, is the Sumatran rhinoceros, which is the smallest and most critically endangered species of the rhinoceros family.

This product is part of the following product sets: