Mongolia starts Evolution coin series

Late last year Coin Invest Trust launched the first two coins of a new Evolution of Life series produced for Mongolia: a 38.61 mm, 1 oz .999 fine silver 500 togrog and a 11 mm, 0.5 g .9999 fine gold 1000 togrog. Mintages are 999 and 15,000, respectively.

Both have been struck by B. H. Mayer Kunstprägeanstalt in high relief. Both feature extinct ammonites, close relatives of the octopus and squid.

For 350 million years ammonites were a major life form in the seas of our planet. They were free swimming and lived protected in beautifully ornamented, spiral shells. These came in many sizes and shapes ranging in size from less than an inch to over 9 feet across.

The animals could pump water in and out of chambers in these shells. This allowed them to rise and sink or jet forward and back either to capture food or escape predators.

Some 65 million years ago they died out abruptly with the dinosaurs. Their fossilized shells are found in rocks ranging in age from the Devonian to the Cretaceous.

More Collecting Resources
• Come on down to the Chicago International Coin Fair in Rosemont, Ill. on April 14 to 17, 2016 to see impressive world coins, meet new collectors and participate in Heritage Auction’s fantastic coin auction.
• The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 8th Edition is your guide to images, prices and information on the century's coins.