Mountains & Flora

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February 11, 2016 – The most impressive summits of the world are at the center of the popular Mountains & Flora series, created by Coin Invest Trust for the island country of Palau. The two latest issues focus on Mount Cook / Aoraki in New Zealand and the Jungfrau in Switzerland. 

Palau / 5 Dollars / Silver .925 / 20 g / 38.61 mm / Mintage: 2500.

The obverse displays the coat of arms of the issuing state below an outrigger canoe. Above, the inscription REPUBLIC OF PALAU, below, the nominal value.
Continuing the style of the series, the reverse depicts either Mount Cook/ Aoraki or the Jungfrau as well as a native plant typical for region. Above, the name of the series, MOUNTAINS & FLORA, and the year of issue below the name and height of the respective mountain.

Mount Cook / Aoraki, as seen from Hooker Valley. Photograph: Jörg Hempel / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en

3274 meters make Mount Cook the highest mountain in New Zealand. It was named after its British discoverer James Cook, who was the first to ever sail around the New Zealand islands in 1769 and who added them to the territories of the British Empire. Today the Maori name for the mountain, Aoraki, is also officially recognised.
Even after this New Zealand landmark lost 10 meters in height on 14 December 1991 due to a debris avalanche, it remains the country’s most dangerous massif: Since the first attempted ascent in 1881, 238 mountaineers have lost their lives trying to reach the summit.

Jungfrau, as seen from Wengen.

Being the third highest summit of the Bernese Alps, the Jungfrau presents yet another alpine challenge. The trio of Jungfrau and adjacent Eiger and Mönch, was added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in 2001. After the brothers Johann Rudolf and Hieronymus Meyer made the first ascent in 1811, people started calling the mountain “Madame Meyer”. The official name, Jungfrau, apparently relates back to the name “Jungfrauenberg” (mountain of the virgins), which could in turn refer to the fact that the Wengernalp, an alpine meadow at the foot of the mountain, belonged to the Interlaken Abbey.
Popular lore attributes special importance to a hole in the ice cover of the glacier on the northwest face: Legend has it that a major war is impending every time this area is covered by ice. That was the case with the Spanish War of Succession, both World Wars and the Gulf War.

The two mountains emblazon the latest issues in the Mountains & Flora series that Coin Invest Trust designs for Palau. The mountains are a spectacularly detailed sight and an impressive contrast to the high-polish silver surface and the colourful flower.

The coins are minted by B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH. Collectors can purchase the issues through specialty dealers.

More information on these coins is available here and here.

This is the website of Coin Invest Trust.

Mount Cook has its own internet presence where it is clear to see that the mountain also makes a spectacular wedding location.

On the website of the Jungfrau, you can check the current weather situation.

And here you can read many fascinating stories about the Jungfrau.