AgAuNugget: Pobjoy Mint expands its titanium coin range with the Blue Whale

The British Pobjoy Mint has long been the world’s biggest issuer of titanium coins ever since releasing the first one back in 1999 for the British  Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. An exceptionally difficult metal to strike for coins because of its immense strength compared to gold and silver, titanium won’t be supplanting the usual coin metals anytime soon but makes an interesting diversion. The colour is imparted during the strike and is slightly different for each coin, making each one unique.

This new one is already the fourth Pobjoy 10g titanium coin issued for 2017, perhaps pointing towards an increase in issues for 2017, up on a bumper year in 2016. The Blue Whale design is typical of these having just the artwork and the inscribed denomination upon the reverse face, with Pobjoys own effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the text inscriptions on the obverse. Coming boxed, the coin sells for £39.59 plus tax. A one std. ounce proof sterling silver version with a mintage of 2,000 will sell for £41.63 plus tax. Issued for SOuth Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, the coin is available to buy now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION: After the successful sell-out of the 2013 issue of the Blue Whale by Pobjoy Mint, we are delighted to announce the release of a new 2017 Blue Titanium coin on behalf of the South Georgia and The Sandwich Islands Government which features the ever so popular Blue Whale once more.

Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth. These magnificent marine mammals rule the oceans at up to 100 feet long and upwards of 200 tons. Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant. Their hearts, as much as an automobile. They have a broad, flat head and a long, tapered body that ends in wide, triangular flukes. They reach these mind-boggling dimensions on a diet composed nearly exclusively of tiny shrimp-like animals called krill. During certain times of the year, a single adult blue whale consumes about 4 tons of krill a day.

Their colour is true blue underwater, but on the surface their colouring is more a mottled blue-grey. Their underbellies take on a yellowish hue from the millions of microorganisms that take up residence in their skin. Blue whales live in all the world’s oceans occasionally swimming in small groups but usually alone or in pairs. They often spend summers feeding in polar waters and undertake lengthy migrations towards the Equator as winter arrives.

DESIGN: The design on the coin shows an adult Blue Whale with her calf swimming in the sea surrounded by small fish just above the sea bed. The adult whale’s tail fin appears above the water line in front of the rising sun. The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.