2018-03-01 Thu

Pobjoy Mint released a new Titanium Coin featuring a Blue Petrel hunting for fishes in the Antarctic Ocean. Two Blue Petrels are shown in the background. 10.00 grams 7,500 Blue Titanium coins and 28.28 grams 10,000 Unc. Cupro Nickel coins will be released for the British Antarctic Territory. Each coin varies in colour because titanium reacts differently with each strike. The coins also feature a lined effect which is unique to this metal. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is featured on the obverse.

Blue Petrels are small seabirds that are generally found in southern oceans. They have a white underside and face with a blueish grey topside. These birds produce and store foul-smelling oil in a special part of their stomach called the proventriculus. They feed on this oil during long flights.

These pelagic birds live at sea. They mostly eat krill apart from other creatures like crustaceans, fish, and squid. They can dive 6 meters deep underwater to catch their prey. They are also spotted sitting on the surface and dip diving. The come to the shore and live in burrows in large colonies only when they breed. The single egg they lay, hatches in 50 days. The hatchling fledges in another 55 days.

The Titanium coin comes in an acrylic capsule which is packaged in a red box with a Certificate of Authenticity. The Cupro Nickel coin comes in Pobjoy Mint’s blue presentation pouch.

Image Courtesy Pobjoy Mint