June 25, 2015 – At dusk, Campbell’s hamsters leave their burrows to forage for seeds in the Mongolian steppe. However, the cute rodents are also incredibly popular children’s pets around the world.
Campbell’s dwarf hamsters in various colours.
The small hamster can reach a size of up to 10cm and is native to the steppes and semideserts of Mongolia as well as North-East China and Siberia. With their thick, beige-brown fur, they are perfectly adapted to the harsh climatic conditions. Pet shops offer hamsters in a range of selectively bred fur colours, including shades of blue and violet.
Mongolia / 2015 / 500 Togrog / Gold .9999 / 0.5 g / 11 mm / Proof / Mintage: 15000 pcs.
The fluffy coat of the Campbell’s dwarf hamster develops over several weeks as the young are born blind and hairless. For the first three weeks of their life, they are fed and cared for by their parents in the central nest chamber of their burrow, a horizontal tunnel with up to six exits.
The life expectancy of the Campbell’s dwarf hamster is only roughly two years. They feed on grasses, seeds, and small insects, while it in turn falls prey to owls, birds of prey, Manul cats and steppe foxes. In the wild, the population of the hamster, which was first scientifically documented in 1902, can reach high densities and population numbers are stable.
Mongolia / 2015 / 500 Togrog / Silver .999 / 1 oz / 38.61 mm / Antique-Finish / Mintage: 2500 pcs.
Just like its predecessor in the Wildlife Protection series, Coin Invest Trust’s rendition of the Campbell’s dwarf hamster is an impressively authentic version of the animal that is so typical of Mongolia. The coin is released as the sixth issue in the popular series, whose first issue won the coveted “Coin of the Year” award in 2009. Likewise, the “Ural Owl” Coin was voted “Most Popular Coin” in said competition in 2013.
The coins are minted by B.H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH. Collectors can purchase the issue through specialty dealers.
For more information on this coin or other coins designed by CIT please visit the website of Coin Invest Trust.
In this Youtube video you see two dwarf hamsters playing.
More about this cute little animal you may learn here.