O nouă monedă comemorativă din Slovacia - 31.12.2024

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Continuing the series of collector's items "Fauna and Flora in Slovakia", the National Bank of Slovakia issued a new coin in this series on October 8, which features the common capercaillie or western capercaillie.

Western grouse (Tetrao urogallus)

The western capercaillie is one of the largest bird species in Slovakia. The male is black except for a metallic blue-green sheen on the breast and brown wings with a white patch. The feathers under the beak are elongated and prominent, and above each eye there is a bright red patch of skin. The relatively long, black tail feathers have whitish patches and widen at the tip. The female is plainer, with mottled chestnut-brown plumage and a striking rust-coloured patch on the breast. The young are similar in appearance to the hen, although with somewhat less pronounced mottling.

In Slovakia, the western capercaillie is found in coniferous and mixed forests, at altitudes of between 600 and 1,550 metres above sea level. The species thrives in scattered strips of old, primeval mountain forest. The capercaillie nests on the ground, in a shallow depression lined with dry leaves, twigs and blades of grass or pine needles. Egg laying occurs in April–May, with the female typically laying six to nine yellowish-brown, speckled eggs.

In winter and early spring, the western capercaillie feeds almost exclusively on pine needles, shoots and buds, while in summer its diet extends to various berries and plant leaves, plus an animal component consisting mainly of insects. This bird is a solitary creature, except when the two sexes come together in the mating season. During courtship, the male stands with its tail feathers raised and fanned out, its neck erect and its beak pointing skywards, and it is a protected species in Slovakia.

 

The obverse of the coin shows a male western capercaillie in a heathland setting, together with a female of the same species at the bottom right of the design. In the background we see coniferous trees and an upright, splintered tree trunk. The coat of arms of Slovakia appears on the right side of the design, below the face value “5 EURO”. On the upper edge are inscribed the name of the issuing country and the year of issue: “SLOVENSKO” (SLOVAKIA), “2024”. While on the right edge is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters “MK” placed between two dies.

 

Finally, the reverse of the coin is dominated by the image of a male western capercaillie perched on a branch. The Slovak name for the species, “HLUCHÁŇ HÔRNY”, is inscribed on the lower edge of the design, while the scientific name, “TETRAO UROGALLUS”, appears on the upper left edge. To the right of the bird is the tip of a pine branch with a pine cone, next to which are the stylised letters “TL”, referring to the coin’s designer, Tomáš Lamač.

Technical characteristics

Designer: Tomas Lamac
Metal: Brass
Weight: 19.1 g
Diameter: 34 mm
Country: Slovakia
Mint: Minsk, Kremnica
Engraver: Dalibor Schmidt
Issue volume: 50,000 (initially, with the possibility of increasing the amount) 

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