REPUBLIC OF GAMBIA (THE GAMBIA)
ENDANGERED WILDLIFE SERIES - THE WEST AFRICAN LION
1,000 GOLD DALASIS COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS WITH SUPPORTERS; DATE BELOW.
REV: RECLINING MALE LION WITH CUB AND FEMALE BEHIND; DENOMINATION BELOW.
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 ABUKO 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.
CONTAINS 155.55 GRAMS OF 999 FINE GOLD (5 OZ AGW)
65 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 99 MINTED!
