Melbourne Coins & Collectables Co. are bringing their eclectic sense of style to the ever popular world of moggies with a coin called ‘From Feral to Friendly’. As you can deduce from that title, it’s all about the link between our (semi) domesticated pets, and the equally magnificent animals that dominate ecosystems around much of the world.

Cats are quite incredible creatures, with physical attributes that enable them to dominate environments. For example, the Black-Footed Cat, a small species that looks superficially just like a domestic variety, is one of natures most efficient predators, attempting to catch prey around twice an hour, and succeeding 60% of the time, an incredible rate. Tigers can weigh in excess of 300 kg, and bring down animals several times that weight. My own cat has no qualms in attacking my leg, and as big as he is, I’m almost 25 times bigger. It would be like me attacking an Allosaurus…

The coin highlights that domestic cats may seem part of the household, but underneath, they retain all their hunting instincts. On the reverse face, we see a small pride of lions snacking on the carcass of a zebra they’ve brought down. On the obverse, we see a pair of cats snuggled up in a living room, one of them casually playing with a toy mouse it had caught. A window through the coin is neatly integrated into both scenes, linking them in spirit.

It’s a two-ounce, high-relief, antique-finished fine silver coin, which is presented boxed, with a certificate of authenticity, and in a themed shipper (below). A nice break from the usual subjects, and well put together, it should have plenty of appeal to the millions of cat fans who also love a coin.