Scottsdale debuts a new Cameroonian silver bullion coin – The Mandrill

Purveyors of an almost countless variety of bullion coins, Scottsdale Mint has carved itself a place at the top of the heap in this burgeoning marketplace. From such ambitious programmes as the Eastern Caribbean 8, to esoteric themes like the new Momotaro, there is seemingly something for everyone. However, a staple of their range, much like the Perth Mint, remains the natural world.

The latest addition is this excellent Mandrill coin, issued for the African nation, Cameroon. A cool subject for a coin, and one not often seen in numismatics, the Mandrill is instantly recognisable for its highly coloured nose. As a bullion coin, colour isn’t a huge help, so fortunately, it’s a primate with a highly distinctive look as well. Scottsdale’s artist has done a great job balancing the esoteric visage with an undercurrent of menace – the adult male Mandrill being an animal quite capable of looking after its pride.

The silver bullion coin has a mintage of just 15,000 pieces and is available in the 1oz format only. Joining this are a pair of proof versions, both with colour. Also an ounce in weight, there’s a silver and a gold version. The Mandrill’s nose is coloured in both, with the title also getting highlighted, although with a different colour for each metal. The proof coins come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity and there will be a maximum of 100 gold and 1,500 silver minted. There’s no sign of a gold bullion version at present, but the availability of the proof does hint one may be coming. Perhaps.

Another great addition to Scottsdales portfolio, continuing to cement their reputation in the bullion market. We’ll add this one to our extensive Bullion Coin Profile to this producers limited mintage bullion coins. Available to order now, with shipping starting in a couple of weeks time.

THE MANDRILL

The mandrill is an omnivorous primate species found predominantly in tropical rainforests and is confined to a small portion of west-central Africa that includes Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Closely related to baboons but shown to be part of their own genus, the mandrill is best known for its array of bright and bizarre coloring. Thanks to its blue-and-red snout and gold beard, the naturalist Charles Darwin said of the mandrill: “No other member in the whole class of mammals is coloured in so extraordinary a manner as the adult male mandrill.”

The gravest threats to mandrill populations are loss of habitat through deforestation and, to an even greater extent, hunting by humans for their meat. This is why the IUCN officially categorizes the mandrill as a vulnerable species. Estimates place the current mandrill population in the wild at only 3,000 individuals.

 

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION 500 Francs CFA (Cameroon) 3,000 Francs CFA (Cameroon) 3,000 Francs CFA (Cameroon)
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 0.999 silver 0.9999 gold
WEIGHT 31.1 grams 31.1 grams 31.1 grams
DIAMETER 38.6 mm 38.6 mm 38.6 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated Proof Proof
MODIFICATIONS None Colour Colour
MINTAGE 15,000 1,500 100
BOX / C.O.A. No / No Yes / Yes Yes / Yes