Wildlife in our Sights

100 Euro Gold Coins

Wildlife in our Sights

Wildlife in our sights

The cave paintings of Lascaux in southwest France are lasting proof that mankind has been fascinated by animals since the dawn of civilisation. Painting by torchlight and using bare rock as their canvas, our Cro-Magnon ancestors strove, with astonishing results, to capture the likeness of the deer, the horse and the bull. Some 17,000 years later, our tools may have changed but our fascination certainly hasn’t.

Anyone who has been lucky enough to observe wild animals in their natural habitat knows just how magical the moment one finds oneself face to face with a magnificent wild beast can be. Wildlife in our Sights is a sumptuous series of six half-ounce gold coins, each one capturing that moment for eternity.

Each handsome coin features a masterful depiction of one of the continent‘s most recognisable wild animals in their natural habitat. In addition, the lower part of each coin is exquisitely decorated with an ornate design that gives the series its distinctive character. Fashioned with precision and passion by our master engravers and minted to the very highest standards in Proof quality only, these extraordinary coins are guaranteed to delight coin collectors and animal lovers alike.

Wild about Gold?

‘Wildlife in our Sights’ is a six-coin series celebrating the diversity of Europe’s native wildlife and its natural habitats, as well as the sustainable management of the environment in which they continue to thrive.

Each handsome coin features a masterful depiction of one of the continent's most recognisable wild animals in their natural habitat. Fashioned with precision and passion by our master engravers and minted to the very highest standards in Proof quality only, these extraordinary coins are guaranteed to delight coin collectors and animal lovers alike.

His Majesty the Red Deer

A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND VIRILITY

With its majestic antlers, the red deer stag is known as the ‘Monarch of the Glen’ and is among the largest wild animals in Europe. The red deer’s powerful antlers come into their own during the rutting season when it uses them to intimidate opponents. It is at home in high mountain woodland, as well as on heath and moorland. Should a red deer appear in your dreams, it is thought to be a positive omen, representing wealth and success. In this respect, this stunning gold coin is definitely a step in the right direction.

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The Wild Boar

A CREATURE OF STRENGTH AND CHARACTER

Present in every continent apart from the Antarctic, the wild boar is the world’s most widely extended species of cloven-hoofed animals. Extremely clever and adaptable, the wild boar is an omnivore that is often found at night foraging in back gardens. Whenever it encounters humans it turns and runs, but a sow in the company of her young is best avoided. Wild boar have long been prized hunting trophies and hunting them with spears was once a test of courage among royalty, since male boars can inflict deadly wounds with their long tusks. Discerning hunters are advised that they will be able to stalk them in the shape of our expertly crafted golden masterpiece.

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The Capercaillie

A RARE BIRD WITH A TALENT FOR SONG

The capercaillie’s bright blue-green plumage makes it one of Europe’s most beautiful birds. It belongs to the grouse family and lives in coniferous, mixed and deciduous woodland at altitudes above 1,000 metres. Capercaillies are active during the day and spend the nights roosting in trees. During the mating season in April and May, the mating call of the capercaillie is heard at dawn when, with its upright, fan-like tail and head held high, the bird holds forth for up to six seconds at a time. During the mating season the capercaillie’s testosterone levels increase a hundred-fold, making it particularly aggressive. Rather than observing the capercaillie in its natural habitat, it is far safer to do so in your own hand, in the form of our Proof quality gold coin, made using only the very highest standards.

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The Fox

THE WILY FOX AND THE ART OF SURVIVAL

The red fox belongs to the wolf family and is a winner in every respect. It is at home in the most varied habitats – from the snows of Alaska to the deserts of North Africa. Due to its intelligence and adaptability, it is the world’s most geographically extended predator. It has learnt to outmanoeuvre lemmings in the Siberian tundra, steal chickens from farmers, and cross the road safely in urban areas. Foxes also have the ability to play dead in order to attract crows, which they then attack unexpectedly. The saying ‘as cunning as a fox’ therefore contains more than a grain of truth.

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The Alpine Ibex

THE MYTHICAL ALPINE ACROBAT

The Alpine ibex is a unique exponent of the art of climbing. In the Alps, the ibex lives between the tree line and the snow line, where it converts the narrowest cracks in the rock into steps and ascends cliff sides with bewildering speed. The species virtually died out in the mid-17th century when its blood and impressive horns, which grow to a length of nearly one metre, were thought to possess mythical healing powers. In the rutting season the males indulge in an archaic show of strength, confronting their rivals on hind legs and bringing their horns crashing down on those of their opponents. Such behaviour is yet to be observed among coin collectors but, given the desirability of this fine gold coin and its limited mintage, it cannot be entirely excluded.

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The Mallard

THE ADAPTABLE WATER FOWL

The mallard is the largest and most common dabbling duck in Europe. It has a wingspan of 95 centimetres and can fly at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. Mallards are basically vegetarian, feeding on seeds, grain and leaves in a typical feeding routine that consists of the mallard submerging its head to forage in the river or lake bed with its tail sticking vertically out of the water. Fully-grown males, known as drakes, look splendid with their metallic green head plumage, white collar and yellow beak. Owing to their great powers of adaptability, mallards are to be found wherever there is water, be it in the city, in the country or in the mountains. From 2018 onwards, they will also be found, made of gold, in the natural habitat of the ambitious coin collector.

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From Forest to Wood

The ornate design unique to this exquisite series is not restricted to the coins themselves. This magnificent wooden collector case echoes the rustic elegance of the series and provides an environment in which to admire your coins. Designed and crafted in house by our engravers, a minted shield graces the centre of the lid and underlines the value of the case’s contents.