In so many ways, the prehistoric world looked nothing like the planet Earth we all inhabit today. From the arrangement of the continents and the ecosystems thriving at that time to the very creatures walking, swimming, and flying around, a modern human would not recognize the Earth of the prehistoric era. We can’t travel back in time to know for certain what this world looked like, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use our imaginations to come up with beautiful images capturing a bygone world. The Prehistoric Life Series for the Democratic Republic of Congo does just that in presenting prehistoric creatures on colorized silver bullion coins. The latest issue in this series of foreign silver coins takes us back to the Early and Middle Pleistocene to view the world of Gigantopithecus.
Gigantophithecus Reverse
On the reverse side of the 2022 Congo Gigantopithecus 1 oz Silver Coin, you will find the colorized image of the might Gigantopithecus. This member of the ape genus is shown with an orange-brown coloration to its fur and a blue-gray coloration for its facial skin. Though it has the body shape and size of a gorilla in this design, it has been theorized that Gigantopithecus was actually more closely related to modern orangutans. The design field offers a beautiful tropical setting behind the beast, with forest-covered mountains in the background, a cascading river system, and lush tropical foliage in the foreground. Inscriptions include PREHISTORIC LIFE along the top of the rim, with a series of three different timelines along the bottom rim that encapsulated the period of Earth’s history covered in the Prehistoric Life Series. Within the design field, there are inscriptions of GIGANTOPITHECUS, 8-.3 MIO YEARS BC, and 2022.
Coat of Arms Obverse
The reverse side of the 2022 Gigantopithecus 1 oz Silver Coins includes the national coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national seal consists of a stone base with a banner that reads JUSTICE, PAIX, TRAVAIL, the national motto of the DRC. Above this, you will notice a leopard’s face in front-facing relief that is flanked by both a spear and an elephant’s tusk. The rim around this design element includes inscriptions of REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, 20 FRANCS, and 1 OZ AG 999.9.
Program Details
In the Prehistoric Life Series, the individual 1 oz silver coins are available to purchase with individual acrylic capsules and come from a limited mintage of 2,000 coins. Each one has colorized visuals on the reverse field with 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure silver content. The coins have a face value of 20 Francs backed by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
History of Gigantopithecus
Gigantopithecus’ origin and evolution have been a topic of discussion in scientific circles for decades. The creatures were once thought to have been part of the hominin, or human, line of evolution as an early ancestor to modern humans. Further investigation suggests that Gigantopithecus was, instead, an early ancestor to orangutans. In cryptozoological circles, many believe that Gigantopithecus may still be alive and could be the source of sightings of the Tibetan yeti or American bigfoot. However, the Gigantopithecus of the Early and Middle Pleistocene era of Earth’s history lived in lush, tropical climates in what is now modern-day China.
Continue Your Prehistoric Life Collection with Gigantopithecus
As the Prehistoric Life Series continues onward, you won’t want to miss a single release in this beautiful collection. Provident Metals’ customer service is here to assist you with any questions about these silver coins. Our team can assist you at 800-313-3315, online through our live chat, and via email. You can also follow our weekly blog posts and our Facebook page for more information on product releases.
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