THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
REIGN OF SAYYID QABOOS BIN SAID AL SAID (1970 TO PRESENT)
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SERIES - ARABIAN TAHR
GOLD 75 OMANI RIALS CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE 68
ONLY 825 MINTED!
OBV: NATIONAL EMBLEM; HIJIRI DATE BENEATH.
REV: ARABIAN TAHR STANDING ON A ROCK LEFT.
KM #63
IN 2011, OMAN HAD NINE ENDANGERED INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF MAMMAL, BUT ROYAL DECREES HAVE BEEN PASSED TO PROTECT THESE SPECIES, INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF THE ARABIAN TAHR.
THE ARABIAN TAHR (ARABITRAGUS JAYAKARI), FEATURED ON THE REVERSE OF THIS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SERIES COIN, IS NATIVE TO THE EASTERN ARABIAN PENNINSULA. A TAHR IS A LARGE MAMMAL AKIN TO THE WILD GOAT, WITH THE ARABIAN TAHR BEING THE SMALLEST SPECIES WITHIN THE GROUPING.
ARABIAN TAHR POSSESS BACKWARD ARCHING HORNS, A COAT WITH LONG REDDISH-BROWN HAIR AND A DARK STRIPE DOWN THE BACK. MALES HAVE A LONG IMPRESSIVE MANE EXTENDING DOWN THE BACK, AND WHICH GROWS LONGER AS THE ANIMAL AGES. LIKE GOATS AND SHEEP, IT HAS RUBBERY HOOVES FOR BALANCE AND TRACTION ON THE STEEP, ROCKY SLOPES OF THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS AND THE JEBEL HAFEET MOUNTAIN.
DUE TO HABITAT DESTRUCTION, POACHING, AND OVERGRAZING, THE ARABIAN TAHR IS CONSIDERED TO BE ENDANGERED.
OMAN AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAVE ONGOING CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING A CAPTIVE ANIMAL BREEDING PROGRAM, NATURE PRESERVES, AND PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS.
THE NATIONAL EMBLEM OF OMAN, ON THE OBVERSE OF THE COIN, IS AN INSIGNIA CONSISTING OF A KHANJAR TRADITIONAL AND CEREMONIAL DAGGER IN ITS SHEATH (WITH BELT) THAT IS SUPERIMPOSED UPON TWO CROSSED SWORDS. ADOPTED IN THE 18TH CENTURY AS THE BADGE OF THE OMANI ROYAL FAMILY, IT SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME THE NATIONAL EMBLEM OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN.
THE KHANJAR (ALSO JANBIYA OR JAMBIYA) IS WORN BY MEN FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS, AND IS NOTED IN OMAN BY ITS SHORT CURVED BLADE RESEMBLING A LETTER “J”. IT REMAINS A SYMBOL OF A MAN’S ORIGINS, MANHOOD AND COURAGE.
CONTAINS 33.437 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.9675 OZ AGW)
34 mm IN DIAMETER
ONLY 825 MINTED!
