Swiss 10 francs 2010

The Alpine MarmotThe nimble marmots never cease to fascinate the many visitors hiking in the National Park, whether for their cute manner, shrill whistling or scraps reminiscent of exhibition fights. In the harsh mountain climate, the marmots only find enough food to sustain them from May to September. In order to survive the six-month winter hibernation, during the summer, they eat to build up a thick layer of fat. At the beginning of October, the marmots retreat to their well-padded dormitory. By reducing body functions, their energy consumption drops to one tenth of its normal level. Marmots spend 90 per cent of their lives in their extensive networks of burrows, safe from the cold and predators. They establish several entrances to enable them to beat a hasty retreat. Thanks to their sense of touch, marmots are very much at home in the dark.Marmots live in family groups, each with an adult male and female as well as several young animals. In May, 34 days after mating, the female gives birth to between two and six naked, blind and deaf young, each weighing around 30 grams. The habitat of our Alpine marmots extends from the Alpine meadows above the tree line as far as the glaciers. In the National Park, they are especially common in the Val Trupchun and on Munt la Schera.

The bimetal coin 2010 'Swiss National Park – Alpine Marmot' at a glance

Date of issue: 21st January 2010

Design: Niklaus Heeb, Rodersdorf

Coin image: Alpine Marmot
Legal face value: 10 Swiss francs
Alloy: Cupronickel + Aluminium Bronze
Weight: 15 g
Diameter: 33 mm (Core 23 mm/Outer ring 33 mm)
Uncirculated: Max. 94,000
Proof: Max. 12,000

Source: Swiss mint

Bank of England `voted unanimously` on base rate

The minutes from the latest Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting show that rate-setters voted unanimously to keep the base rate at 0.5% for the twelfth consecutive month.
There had been some speculation as to whether the Bank of England might raise its base rate slightly, after inflation was revealed to have risen to 2.9% in December.
But it seems that other economic pressures led the MPC to leave the rate unchanged.
Many economists believe the base rate will remain at 0.5% for the duration of 2010.
However, with inflation rising further to 3.5% in January, the Bank may come under more pressure to raise the base rate in order to encourage lower spending levels.Read more

Sierra Leone 2009 Remember Michael Jackson: 1958 – 2009 Coin

The sudden death of superstar Michael Jackson in June 2009 shocked the world and the Bank of Sierra Leone has released a coin to honour the life of one of the world’s greatest performers. Michael Jackson started performing at the age of six as part of ‘The Jackson 5’ with his four brothers. He went on to become one of the best-selling musical artists of all time and his 1982 album ‘Thriller’ is still the most successful album of all time, having sold 110 million copies worldwide. A global icon for over four decades, Michael Jackson was as famous for his dancing and trademark clothes, including the solo white glove and hat, as he was for his singing. In March 2009, he announced that he would be doing a number of concert dates at the O2 arena in London, called ‘This is it’ during July and August and they were a sell-out. Unfortunately, on 25th June 2009, Michael Jackson suffered a heart-attack at his home in Los Angeles and never regained consciousness. He has left behind a legacy of music that still sounds as fresh and relevant as it did twenty years ago. The design of the coin features a portrait of Michael Jackson with the wording ‘1958 Michael Jackson 2009’ in the surround. The obverse of the coin features the Republic of Sierra Leone’s Coat of Arms and is available in Cupro Nickel and Proof Sterling Silver.

Source: Pobjoy

Ole Bull 10-krone Norway commemorative coin 2010

Ole Bornemann Bull was born on 5 February 1810 in Bergen and died on 17 August 1880. A celebrated Norwegian violinist and composer of international renown, his impassioned dedication to traditional Norwegian folk music played a prominent role in the development of a distinctively Norwegian culture following the dissolution of the union with Denmark in 1814.
In the course of his long career, Ole Bull travelled extensively, performing all over the world, and composed a total of more than 70 works, including Recuerdos de Habana, Et Sæterbesøg, Sætergjentens søndag, I ensomme Stunde and Polacca Guerriera. He also supported and encouraged young Norwegian classical musicians such as Edvard Grieg, Erika Nissen, Agathe Backer Grøndahl and Rikard Nordraak.

Design and technical specifications
Diameter: 24.0 mm
Thickness: 2.0 mm
Weight: 6.8 g
Alloy: 81% Cu, 10% Zn, 9% Ni
Edge: Alternate plain/milled

Obverse (heads side):
The obverse features a portrait of H.M. King Harald V facing right. Around the portrait is the inscription: HARALD V NORGES KONGE. At the lower left edge of the portrait is the artist’s signature, IAR. Below the portrait is the year 2010 with Det Norske Myntverkets (Mint of Norway’s) mintmark, the crossed pick and hammer, placed between the first two and last two digits.

Reverse (tails side):
The design on the reverse features Ole Bull’s portrait fused with part of a sheet of music from his composition ”Seterjentens søndag”, one of Bull’s most famous compositions, with his name (OLE BULL), the anniversary year (200 ÅR) and the coin’s denomination (10 kr) to the right. These elements form a decorative and rhythmic whole. Below the denomination is the designer’s signature, WG.

The coin's obverse was designed by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket AS (Mint of Norway). The reverse was designed by sculptor Wenche Gulbransen. 10-krone coins in the standard design will not be issued in 2010.

Source: Norges bank

The Lincoln One Cent Coin 2010

The current Lincoln cent's reverse (tails side) design is emblematic of President Abraham Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a single and united country, as required by Title III of Public Law 109-145, the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. While the obverse (heads) continues to bear the familiar Victor David Brenner likeness of President Lincoln that has appeared on the coin since 1909, the reverse features a union shield with a scroll draped across and the inscription ONE CENT.
The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above. The horizontal bar features the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM—"out of many, one"—while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is depicted along the upper rim of the coin. The union shield, which dates back to the 1780s, was used widely during the Civil War. The shield is also featured on frescoes by Constantino Brumidi throughout the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building completed in the mid-19th century.
The Secretary of the Treasury approved the reverse design for the coin after consultation with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and review by the Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee.
These one-cent coins have a metallic content of 2.5 percent copper, balance zinc. They are issued for circulation in quantities sufficient to meet the demands of commerce. Numismatic (proof and uncirculated) versions are included in the United States Mint's annual product offerings.

Source: US Mint

Georgia 10 lari silver coin 2009

To mark the Day of St. George on November 23, 2009, the National Bank of Georgia has issued 10 lari denomination silver coin commemorating the church of St. George in Ilori. A remarkable monument of Georgian Architecture, the church of Saint George in Ilori (Ochamchire region ), Abkhazia, the historic and Geographic part of Georgia, was built in 11th century, AD and represents one of the most important praying places for all of Georgia. Walls of the church bear several old Georgian inscriptions performed Georgian orthodox believers of different generations.

Face Value: 10 lari

Date of issue: 2009

Weight: 28.28gr

Diameter: 38.61

Alloy: Ag 925°

Quality: Proof

Mintage (volume) 1500 pcs

Mintage Limit: 3000

The coins are struck in 2009, at the Mint of Finland.

The Coin designers are: Mamuka Gongadze (Reverse) and Temur Apkhadze (Obverse).

Obverse: composition of the obverse of the coin is the drawings of the 17th century, AD Italian monk Don Christoforo de Castelli, consisting of the Saint George church of Ilori, the village of Ilori and horseriders. Background of the coin is the mountain ridge of the Caucasus. In the lower right corner of the design is the word inscription “საქართველო” (“Sakartvelo”-Georgia) and the year of the issue -2009.

Reverse: the modern-day image of the Church is depicted in the center of the coin, with the Roman numeral “XI” – the date of the construction of the Church-underneath. The coat of arms of Georgia and the inscription “ილორი” (“Ilori”) is placed in the upper part of the coin and the denomination numeral 10 together with the lettering “ლარი” (“Lari”) is placed in the left side of the coin.

Edge- smooth with inscriptions: (“საქართველოს ეროვნული ბანკი”-“ The National Bank of Georgia”)

Source: National Bank of Georgia

Bermuda 4 dollar silver coin 2009

In 1609, Sir George Somers set sail from Plymouth, England aboard the Sea Venture, the new flagship of the Virginia Company, leading a fleet of nine vessels, loaded with provisions and settlers for the new English colony of Jamestown, in Virginia. During the journey, the Sea Venture was caught in a storm. To prevent the ship from sinking, 150 sailors and settlers were driven onto the reefs at the east end of Bermuda. All on board were saved and landed in Bermuda where they remained for over ten months. During that time, using material from the Sea Venture, the settlers built two other ships, the Deliverance and the Patience, and set sail in them for Jamestown, Virginia. These events serve to highlight Bermuda’s crucial role in the development of the New World. Over the past four centuries, Bermuda has evolved into a diverse multicultural community whose population has worked to build its reputation as a leading international financial services centre and tourism destination. During the quad-centennial celebrations, Bermuda will honour and showcase its people, culture and the numerous events that have shaped the history of the island from 1609 to date. The Bermuda Monetary Authority is pleased to issue this special four-sided coin, the first of this shape to be issued in Bermuda, and a special $4 denomination, as a tribute to the 400th anniversary of the island and its people. The reverse design features a sailing ship, a Brigantine vessel, which is representative of the ship used to bring the first people of the African Diaspora to the island. The reverse design also contains the inscription of the anniversary years, 1609 - 2009 and the words ‘400th Anniversary of the Settlement of Bermuda’ . The obverse of the coin features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS

Source: Bermuda Monetary Authority