Series of coins “Save our world” – Russia

Save Our World coin series is a series of gold coins and silver coins from Russia.

The history of the series

It is very similar to the “Red Book” series, but is not issued every year. As in the “Red Book”, each coin in the series is dedicated to a rare animal. But if the Red Book series aims to remind people about endangered species, “Save Our World” expands on that theme.

Rather, it is a mini-story not only about an animal, but also about the nature of its habitat, as well as about people who live nearby. In other words, the term “world” is interpreted very broadly by the authors of the series.

The animals of the series

So far, in the series “Save Our World” coins were issued with the following animals: Amur tiger, reindeer, brown bear, polar bear, lynx, river beaver, sable, snow leopard, Persian leopard. Both gold (.999 fine metal) as well as silver coins issued.

On the market since 1993 – The Brown Bear

The first commemorative gold coins of the series “Save Our World” with the image of the brown bear appeared in 1993. Four coins with denominations from 25 to 200 rubles were issued in a total of 5880 copies. Silver coins were also minted in denominations of 3 rubles in the amount of 5000 pieces.

The brown bear is a widespread and best known member of the bear family. The size of the brown bear is very individual and depends mainly on the geographical habitat. The body length varies between 1.5 and 2.8 m, the weight of the males between 135 and 550 kg. The largest specimens live on the coast of Alaska and in Russia on Kamchatka. In the European part of Russia brown bears weigh 250-300 kg. Females are much smaller. The weight of these animals also depends on the season – they are heaviest in the fall because they need to accumulate subcutaneous (subcutaneous means “under the skin”) fat for successful hibernation.

1994 – The sable

On October 25, 1994, a coin was issued with the image of a sable and a stylized floral design on the reverse. These were gold coins with denominations from 25 to 200 rubles. Images of the same animal on each coin are different.

The sable is a beautiful mammal and is the national pride of Russia. Looking at pictures of sable animals, one may come to the wrong conclusion that it is a beautiful, gentle, weak and defenseless animal. In fact, the sable is strong, fast and agile.

The length of the males is on average 47cm. The average weight of the animal is up to 2 kg. The length and weight of the female are slightly less. To understand in which area the sable lives, it is worth looking at the map. The distribution area is quite large: from the Ural Mountains to the north coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is found on Kamchatka and the southern Kuril Islands. Old cedar forests, coniferous taiga are the habitat of the sable.

1995 – The Lynx – and other vintages of the 90s

In 1995 gold coins with the image of the lynx were minted in denominations of 50, 100, 200 rubles, as well as silver coins of 3, 25, 100 rubles. The lynxes belong to the class of carnivorous mammals. Lynx belong to the small cat subfamily and are considered close relatives of cheetahs, pumas, and all other members of the wild cat tribe.

Lynx are small, do not grow taller than 70 cm and weigh between 6 and 30 kg, depending on the subspecies. The carnivores have short, powerful bodies and long, muscular limbs. Their coat is thick and fluffy, with a dense undercoat. The usual color of the lynx is sandy, with dark spots scattered all over the body, forming a bizarre pattern. One of the characteristic features is their short, truncated tail, the tip of which is usually black.

In the wild, lynx inhabit the following regions: Russia, including the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island; Ukraine, including the Chernobyl zone; Poland; Belarus; the Carpathian Mountains from the Czech Republic to Romania; the Nordic Peninsula; the Baltic States; the Balkan Peninsula; Transcaucasia: Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan; Central Asia: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan; China; Mongolia; Alaska; Canada; USA; Mexico.

Amur Tiger – 1996

In December 1996 , the gold coins “Save Our World” with a stylized image of the Amur tiger on the reverse went on sale. The Amur tiger is the largest tiger in the world and is an endangered species. The weight of this large mammal can exceed 300 kilograms. The body length is 160-290 cm and the tail length is 110 cm. The Amur tiger is an ornament of the Far Eastern taiga and an object of veneration for many peoples of the Far East.

Polar bear – 1997

In 1997, the polar bear was added to the gold collection with the image of the polar bear in denominations of 50, 100, 200 and 10,000 rubles, as well as silver coins of 3, 25, 100 rubles. The polar bear, also known as the polar or northern bear, is a predatory mammal belonging to the bear family and the bear genus. These animals have such a thick subcutaneous fat layer that they can easily endure sub-zero temperatures and long stays in ice-cold water. They can hear, see and smell perfectly. At first glance, a bear gives the impression of being a large, heavy and clumsy animal. But this is a misconception. It is very agile, both in the water and on land.

In just one hour, it can easily cover a distance of 10 kilometers. Its swimming speed is about 5 km/h. It is worth noting that the bear, if necessary, can swim quite a long distance.

The new millennium

In 2000, the snow leopard appeared in gold and silver ю Snow leopards are among the most beautiful animals in the world. These cats have a beautiful appearance and the ability to adapt to the harsh winter climate. Since snow leopards live in inaccessible areas, people have not yet learned all their habits. Since each individual has its own territory of 15 to 200 km, which is denied to other brothers, their habitat, even if their number is small, is quite large. Snow leopards prefer to live in steep mountainous regions between 1,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level. Depending on environmental conditions, the animal may descend into forested areas or climb to the top of cliffs in search of food. Nowadays, snow leopards are found mainly in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia, India, Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Reindeer – 2004

In 2004, four gold coins depicting a reindeer were minted with denominations of 25, 100, 200 and 10,000 rubles. Silver coins were also minted in denominations of 3, 25 and 100 rubles.

Reindeer is one of the most fascinating animals. Its size, pride and majesty impress us from childhood when we read in books about this amazing inhabitant of the northern latitudes. In many other countries, this animal is no less popular and delights the little ones at Christmas, when they bring Santa Claus to a celebration. But few of us get to see them alive – many species are threatened with extinction and are increasingly rare to find in the wild.

River beaver – 2008

In 2008, gold coins dedicated to the river beaver were offered for sale. Four gold coins were issued with denominations of 25, 100, 200 and 10,000 rubles. Silver coins were also minted in denominations of 3, 25 and 100 rubles.

The river beaver usually inhabits both rivers and lakes. There are many enthusiastic descriptions about this animal, as it impresses people with its diligence. He stands for order and is often found in fairy tales, where he appears as a positive character.

Persian Leopard – 2011

In 2011, the series was supplemented with gold and silver coins with an embossed image of the Persian leopard. Persian leopards are a great exotic for Russian nature and therefore have received a special place on commemorative coins. In Russia, spotted carnivores live only in the forests of the Caucasus, mainly in mountainous Dagestan. Leopards are among the most breathtaking animals. The spotted predators impress with their colorful coloring, graceful body and inimitable behavior. The Persian Leopard is the largest member of the cat family. Today there are very few specimens of this species, which is why they are listed in the Red Book (mammals are threatened with extinction). About 25 years ago, the population of these cats fell to a meager one dozen individuals, but thanks to the efforts of conservationists, they are gradually recovering.

2015 – The moose

The 2015 edition of the series is dedicated to the moose, although they are not yet threatened with extinction. Four gold coins were issued with denominations of 25, 100, 200 and 10,000 rubles. Silver coins were also minted in denominations of 3, 25 and 100 rubles.

Normally, these ungulates avoid humans and choose dense forests to live in. But occasionally moose wander into the villages, which are not at all afraid of people and even show aggression. And remembering the massive horns and several hundredweight of this animal, an unarmed person is definitely not an enemy for him. The moose is the majestic and largest member of the red deer family. Its huge antlers and imposing size are unique. Hundreds of people visit nature reserves and moose farms to admire the giant. It is the largest herbivorous mammal in Russia.

Tundra Wolf – 2020

The last coin in the series so far was issued in 2020 with the motif of the tundra w olf (also known as the polar wolf ). Three coins with denominations from 25 to 100 and 10,000 rubles were issued. Silver coins were also minted in denominations of 3, 25 and 100 rubles.

The Arctic wolf is an amazing animal that is not afraid of severe cold or weeks of food deprivation. It is best suited for life in real ice deserts.

1kg gold coins

Among the commemorative co ins are gold coins with a record weight of 1 kilogram with a face value of 10,000 rubles. Of course, the actual value of the metal is several times higher, and therefore they can be considered as an object for reliable investment.

Would you like to know more?

If you would like to know more about these fascinating coins, please feel free to contact us. In our store we have regular issues of this series but also other coins from Russia and neighboring countries.

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