REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
RULE OF "PRESIDENT FOR LIFE" HASTINGS KAMUZU BANDA (PRIME MINISTER OF NYASALAND 1961-1964; PRESIDENT OF MALAWI 1964-1994)
CONSERVATION SERIES - THE NYALA
CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE 65
OBV: HEAD OF HASTINGS BANDA RIGHT.
REV: MALE NYALA LEFT WITH FEMALE BEHIND; DATE ABOVE; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
KM # 17
THE NYALA (NYALA ANGASII or TRAGELAPHUS ANGASII), IS A SPIRAL-HORNED ANTELOPE NATIVE TO SOUTHERN AFRICA, INCLUDING MALAWI, MOZAMBIQUE,SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE. IT WAS EXTICT IN THE 1950's IN SWAZILAND UNTIL REINTRODUCTION OF THE SPECIES. THERE ARE DISTINCT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES, MOST PROMINENT BEING THAT ONLY MALES HAVE HORNS. THE GREATEST THREATS TO THE NYALA ARE HABITAT LOSS DUE TO AGRICULTURE, CATTLE GRAZING, AND HUNTING. DUE TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS, THE NYALA IS, AT PRESENT, CONDIDERED A SPECIES OF "LEAST CONCERN", AND ITS POPULATIONS ARE "STABLE". NATIONAL PARKS AND SANCTUARIES ARE THE HOME TO 80% OF TODAY'S NYALA POPULATIONS, ALTHOUGH IN MALAWI, NUMBERS HAVE FALLEN FROM 3,000 TO AN ESTIMATED 1,000 ANIMALS.
CONTAINS 33.437 GRAMS OF 900 FINE GOLD
(0.9676 OZ AGW)
ONLY 566 MINTED
