The first in the series was one that first drew our attention to it as something a bit different. The depiction of the Giraffe is quite unusual and extremely well done. Normally, this animal is shown standing around looking sedate and dopey, but this view of the creature running hard into a turn is both unexpected and neat.

A quite specctacular animal, the Giraffe is the world’s tallest at well over 5.5 metres in height. They also have an 45 cm tongue! Despite their ungainly appearance, they are capable of running at 60 km/h, even maintaining 50 km/h for several kilometers. The coin does a great job of showing that.

Another cool design showing an iconic animal engaging in iconic behaviour. There are few more spectacular sights than a Humpback Whale breaching the surface, and the coin artist has done a great job showing that off, especially given the size of the canvas they had to work with.

While the coin doesn’t specifically state it’s a Humpback Whale, that’s almost certainly the case. Breaching isn’t a universal act for whales – the Blue Whale rarely does it, for example – and most whale watching is centred around this playful animal. It doesn’t reach the sheer size of a Blue, but the Humpback can exceed 40 tonnes in weight. Thankfully, we treat them better these days, although some backwards countries still allow hunting.

Made famous by its association with the United States, the Bald Eagle is a beautiful predatory bird named after its white head plumage. The bald means ‘piebald’ not actual ‘bald’ (think Leslie Nielsen rather than Telly Savalas…). Adorning many US coins, and a few Canadian, the bird is an icon of the numismatic world.

This one has a fair bit to live up to then. It’s actually a pretty nice design, especially for a bullion coin. Completely eschewing the heraldic look for an eagle in its natural habitat, it fits in well with the style of the previous two issues, showing actual behaviour rather than just a portrait.

One of the most potent terrestrial predators on the planet, the Grizzly Bear is a giant in its environment, deserving of much respect. Adult males can reach 550 kg in weight, especially those feeding primarily on salmon, and in excess of 2 metres in length. They inhabit much of the Northern Hemisphere, and have an omnivorous diet, eating everything from berries to caribou.

This one has a fair bit to live up to then. It’s actually a pretty nice design, especially for a bullion coin. Completely eschewing the heraldic look for an eagle in its natural habitat, it fits in well with the style of the previous two issues, showing actual behaviour rather than just a portrait.

Ocean rays, also known as marine rays, are a fascinating group of cartilaginous fishes that inhabit the world’s oceans. They are closely related to sharks and belong to the same class, Elasmobranchii. Ocean rays are known for their flattened bodies, which are perfectly adapted for life on the seabed. They possess broad pectoral fins that resemble wings, enabling them to gracefully glide through the water.

These rays come in a variety of sizes, from the relatively small butterfly rays to the enormous manta rays, which can reach widths of up to 23 feet. They have a unique reproductive strategy called ovoviviparity, in which the embryos develop inside the mother’s body until they are ready to be born.

Ocean rays are typically bottom-dwellers, spending much of their time on sandy or muddy ocean floors. They possess specialized mouthparts designed for feeding on a wide range of prey, including mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. Some species, such as the manta rays, are filter feeders, consuming large quantities of plankton by swimming with their mouths open.

These captivating creatures are not only ecologically important but also hold cultural significance in many coastal communities. However, like many marine species, ocean rays face numerous threats, including habitat degradation, pollution, and overfishing. Efforts to protect and conserve these graceful creatures are crucial to ensuring their survival in the face of these challenges.

In a typical Congo obverse there’s a border that holds the inscribed issuing country, and the denomination of 20 Francs, although in this case, the coin composition is also inscribed here.

The coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one that has changed quite a few times, with the latest version having its origins in 2006 under the rule of President Joseph Kabila.

It depicts a leopard head, surrounded by an elephant tusk to the left and a spear to the right. Below are the three words which make up the national motto: Justice, Paix, Travail (Justice, Peace, Work in French).