By Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….
Earlier today, the Singapore Mint debuted a new four coin silver proof set featuring regional marine life. Each coin is vaguely scallop-shaped and features artwork that, when connected to the other coins in the set, forms a serpentine or wave-shaped undersea panorama.
The 2014 Marine Life Commemorative Coin Set is the first of the Singapore Mint’s “Discovery of Nature” series, intended to honor local conservation efforts.
Four animals are depicted: the rosy fiddler crab, the knobbly sea star, the estuarine seahorse, and the blue ring angelfish. Each animal is colorized, along with other, smaller portions of each obverse.
It is also the first Singapore-themed set issued by the National Bank of Cambodia, in honor of the 15-year partnership between the two nations. As such, the reverse of each coin also features its respective animal next to an image of Angkor Wat, the ancient Cambodian temple complex. Angkor Wat was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.
The coins consist of 1/2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver each, and the set retails for Singapore $300.
A total of 3,000 sets will be minted. Each comes in a litoral-themed box and holder. Pre-orders close December 31.
