June 13, 2013 – Having celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year, the Isle of Man Cat series of coins continues this year with the issue of another superb coin, this time featuring the Siberian Cat.
Siberian cat Tofik. Photo: Mstachul / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
The Siberian Cat has been present in Russia for centuries and is an ancient cat breed that is now said to be the ancestor of all modern long-haired cats. It is a natural breed of Siberia and the national cat of Russia. The cat was first mentioned in a book, which included information on the earliest cat shows in England, in 1871. The Siberian is a strong and powerfully built cat with large, well rounded paws. They are fun loving felines who are energetic and always ready to play a game. They are also intelligent and incredibly inquisitive and tend to get involved in absolutely everything they can.
This particular breed has been described as having some traits that are very similar to those of a dog: they are extremely loyal to their owner and will greet them when they return home, play with them when they are happy and show much affection when they are down. They are also very quick to learn and can be taught to walk on a lead and even play fetch.
The design on the coin depicts an adult Siberian Cat with her kitten. Approved by Buckingham Palace, the obverse bears a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. The coins are available in Cupro Nickel and Proof Fine 999. Silver, with each Silver coin being struck four times to create the Pobjoy proof finish with stunning sculpted reliefs against mirror brilliant tables.
To view these and other coins, please visit the Pobjoy website.