INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
HEPTAGONAL COIN - QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S BIRDWING BUTTERFLY
CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE PROOFLIKE 69
OBV: BIRDWING BUTTERFLY DISPLAYED; DENOMINATION ABOVE.
REV: NATIONAL EMBLEM; DATE BENEATH.
KM #13
BIRDWING BUTTERFLIES ARE IN THE SWALLOWTAIL FAMILY AND ARE NOTED FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SIZE, ANGULAR WINGS, AND BIRDLIKE FLIGHT. THEY ARE NATIVE TO AUSTALASIA, MAILNALND AND ARCHIPELIGIC SOUTHEAST ASIA AND INDIA. EXPERTS DISAGREE ON THE NUMBER OF SPECIES, BUT 36 OR MORE ARE CLASSIFIED. QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S BIRDWING (ORNITHOPTERA ALIXANDRAE) IS FOUND ONLY IN THE FORESTS OF THE ORO PROVINCE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. SPECIALLY AUTHORIZED CAPTIVE REARED SPECIMENS ARE RAISED ON RANCHES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. IT IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES, MAKING INTERNATIONAL TRADE ILLEGAL. IT IS THE LARGEST BUTTERFLY IN THE WORLD, AND ITS WINGSPAN REACHES IN EXCESS OF 9.8 INCHES.
CONTAINS 9.57 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD
(0.2769 OZ)
27 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 400 MINTED!
FRANKLIN MINT
