REPUBLIC OF ZAIRE (1971-1997)
RULE OF MOBUTO SESE SEKO (PRESIDENT AND DICTATOR 1965-1997)
5 OUNCE 10,000 GOLD NOUVEAUX ZAIRES COIN
CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 68 ULTRA CAMEO
WILDLIFE OF AFRICA SERIES - THE LEOPARD
ONLY 99 MINTED!
OBV: LEOPARD PERCHED IN A TREE; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
REV: AFRICAN CONTINENT RELIEF MAP CENTER WITH BOUNDRY FOR ZAIRE DELINEATED; SMALL NATIONAL ARMS OVER DATE LEFT.
THE LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS), SMALLEST OF THE "BIG CATS", IS MORE OFTEN FOUND IN TREES, AN UNEQUALLED CLIMBER COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE FELINES. LEOPARDS OFTEN DRAG THE CARCASSES OF THEIR PREY UP INTO THE BRANCHES WITH THEM.
HUNTING AND LOSS OF HABITAT HAVE PLACED THE LEOPARD ON THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION'S RED LIST AS "VULNERABLE". POPULATIONS ARE THREATENED BY HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION. ITS HABITAT RANGE IS LIMITED TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, WITH POPULATION FRAGMENTS SPORADIC THROUGHOUT THE SUBCONTINENT OF INDIA, SRI LANKA, INDOCHINA, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA AND CHINA.
THE FUR OF THE LEOPARD IS MOST EASILY RECOGNIZABLE BY THE DENSELY PATTERNED SMALL ROSETTE-SHAPED MARKINGS OR "SPOTS" COVERING THE COAT, ALTHOUGH GREAT COLOR AND MARKING VARIATIONS EXIST.
STEALTHY AND ADAPTABLE, IT IS AN OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTER WITH LARGE SKULLS AND POWERFUL JAW MUSCLES THAT ENABLE IT TO TAKE DOWN AND MOVE HEAVY PREY.
CONTAINS 155.5 GRAMS OF 999 FINE GOLD 5 OZS
62 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 99 MINTED!
