2018-01-23 Tue

Pobjoy released new £2 coins featuring the coconut crab for British Indian Ocean Territory. The world’s largest land arthropod, coconut crab is majorly found in British Indian Ocean Territory. The coins are available in Uncirculated copper-nickel or colourful titanium versions. The obverse features Pobjoy Mint’s exclusive effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

Huge Coconut crabs can weigh up to 4 kilograms. It can stretch its legs to 1 meter. They are found in Indonesia, Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific. They sometimes feed on coconuts. They also climb the palm trees and sometimes use a broken coconut shell as protection.

The coconut crab has been recently spotted hunting a seabird as well. These crabs are hunted extensively for food and are also used as an aphrodisiac. They have the power to attack humans as well with their firm grip. It is said that they release their grips when you tickle their underbelly.

The coin design shows a crab eating a coconut and another one climbing a coconut palm. The titanium coconut crab coin is golden brown in colour.