Pobjoy Mint recently introduced a new five-coin series called the Big Five African Animals, in which the first coin features a majestic African Elephant. The coins are struck in high relief and are issued for Sierra Leone. Struck in 2oz Fine Silver, the coin depicts the head of an elephant which looks like an African mask. An African pattern can be seen on the incused rim. The 62.21 grams coin has a diameter of 50 millimetres and a mintage limit of 500 pieces. The coin comes in a custom-made acrylic box with an outer printed sleeve containing the Certificate of Authenticity.

Elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos were termed as the Big Five African Animals as they were considered to be the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. The terminology became very popular over the years and stayed on. Since they are now endangered species, a lot of conservation efforts are being undertaken to create awareness and protect these wonderful animals.

Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and they and can live for 70 years. These sociable animals eat for 16 hours a day and use a wide range of sounds to communicate with each other, even when they are 6 miles apart. They are generally calm unless you annoy them. They can weigh up to 12,000 pounds and their trunk contains 40,000 muscles to detect the size, shape, and temperature of the objects.

Image Courtesy: Pobjoy Mint