REPUBLIC OF GAMBIA (THE GAMBIA)
ENDANGERED WILDLIFE SERIES - THE WEST AFRICAN LION
200 GOLD DALSASIS COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS WITH SUPPORTERS; DATE BELOW.
REV: A MALE LION STALKING RIGHT, TREE BEHIND LEFT; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
THE WEST AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA LEO SENEGALENSIS) IS FOUND BELOW THE SAHARA RANGING FROM THE GAMBIA AND SENEGAL TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. THEY ARE RARE IN WESTERN AFRICA AND ARE THOUGHT TO BE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. POPULATION ESTIMATES ARE 400-1,300 IN WEST AFRICA AND 550-1,550 IN CENTRAL AFRICA. THEIR NATURAL REGION OF HABITATION HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 15% OF ITS HISTORIC RANGE. IN THE GAMBIA, THE CAREFULLY PROTECTED ABUKU NATURE PRESERVE IS THOUGHT TO BE THE LAST HOME OF A SMALL POPULATION OF REMAINING LIONS. GENETIC RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT WEST AFRICAN LIONS ARE MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO ASIATIC LIONS THAN TO THOSE FROM SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA.
KM# 48
CONTAINS 31.1035 GRAMS OF .999 GOLD (1.0 OZ AGW)
36 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 1,000 MINTED
