Magnificent Life series heads into the undergrowth with the iconic Cobra snake

Along with Evolution of Life, Magnificent Life was a new series that debuted at the ANA show in 2015 and signalled that CIT were not going to be saving all the best stuff for the World Money Fair in Berlin at the start of every year. The Peacock was the initial subject of choice and this was follwed up last year by the Wasp Spider. Obviously from just this first pair of coins you can see that the net will be cast far and wide as far as subjects are concerned.

To hammer that point home, the third coin features the Cobra snake, bringing in a third class of animal in as many coins. At heart, these are relatively straightforward designs, concentrating on a quality implementation rather than inserts or unusual finishes. Struck to a proof finish and employing SmartMinting for a high-relief design sitting within a concave face, the coin just recieves some selective colouring to highlight the cobra’s head.

It’s a great design, the hood of the animal, (we’re assuming an Indian Cobra from the image, although the coin is themed for the family in general), filling the face perfectly with the snout rising from the coin centre and enhancing the depth. Just the series name is inscribed on this face, following the rim fairly unobtrusively, although more noticeable than other recent releases like the Chergach meteorite coin and the Ichthyosaur. As it’s a Cook Islands issue, the obverse carries the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of QEII.

Packaging comprises the usual wooden box with a themed image on the lid and there will be just 999 of these 1 oz fine silver coins produced for sale. Animal lovers will no doubt want to add this one to what is turning out to be a varied range of critter coins, especially as the one coin per year release schedule isn’t too taxing, something that can affect the popularity of a series. WIth the new skull coins, Chergach, the Ichthyosaur and the beautiful Marine Life Protection finale coins we’ll cover tomorrow, CIT had a great run at ANA this year.

2017 MAGNIFICENT LIFE: COBRA SILVER COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The Indian cobra (Naja naja) is a species of the genus Naja found in the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) and a member of the “big four” species that inflict the most snakebites on humans in India, along with the Common krait, Russell’s viper and Saw-scaled viper. This snake is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers. It is now protected in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

The Indian cobra is a moderately sized, heavy bodied species. This cobra species can easily be identified by its relatively large and quite impressive hood, which it expands when threatened. This species has a head which is elliptical, depressed, and very slightly distinct from neck. The snout is short and rounded with large nostrils. The eyes are medium in size and the pupils are round. The majority of adult specimens range from 1 to 1.5 metres in length. Some specimens, particularly those from Sri Lanka, may grow to lengths of 2.1 to 2.2 metres, but this is relatively uncommon.

The Indian cobra’s venom mainly contains a powerful post-synaptic neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. The venom acts on the synaptic gaps of the nerves, thereby paralyzing muscles, and in severe bites leading to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The venom components include enzymes such as hyaluronidase that cause lysis and increase the spread of the venom. Symptoms may manifest between 15 minutes and 2 hours following the bite.

The Indian Cobra inhabits a wide range of habitats throughout its geographical range. It can be found in dense or open forests, plains, agricultural lands (rice paddy fields, wheat crops), rocky terrain, wetlands, and it can even be found in heavily populated urban areas such as villages and city outskirts, ranging from sea-level to 2,000 metres in altitude. This species is absent from true desert regions, but is often found in the vicinity of water. Preferred hiding locations are holes in embankments, tree hollows, termite mounds, rock piles and small mammal dens.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 MAGNIFICENT LIFE
DENOMINATION $5 Cook Islands
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1 grams
DIAMETER 38.61 mm
FINISH Proof
MODIFICATIONS Selective colour, SmartMinting
MINTAGE 999
BOX / COA Yes / Yes
COIN INVEST TRUST