July 3, 2014 – Coin Invest Trust continues its Mongolian Nature series by issuing the “Wild Horse”. The new addition to the coin series with the cut-out motifs has been an enormous success just like its predecessor, the “Wolf”. Like the wolf coin, the current edition is available in gilded silver and gold.
Mongolian Nature 2014.
The first thing which comes to mind when we think about horses is usually the hobby or sport associated with them or the fact that, back in the days, they were the most advanced means of transportation we had. In Mongolia, this is a wholly different matter. The horse also signifies hobby, sport and means of transportation – but at the same time, far more than that. Mongols and their horses always have and to this day cohabit very closely with each other. The horses do not only provide milk and flesh but constitute an important economic factor. Currently, there are more than 3 million horses in Mongolia, which means that the Central Asian state is populated by more horses than people!
Mongolia/ 500 Togrog/ ½ oz/ Silver .925/ 38.61 mm/ Mintage: 2,500 pieces.
Most animals live outdoors, having to bear temperature changes from –40 °C in the winter to up to 30 °C during the summer time. The Mongolian horse is a hardy and strong breed, its stocky body designed to cope with great strain. Although the Mongols have been domesticating horses for centuries, they have hardly interfered with the breed’s genetic characteristics at all. Hence, of all known horse breeds, the Mongolian horse possesses the greatest genetic variety.
Mongolia/ 500 Togrog/ Gold .9999/ 0.5 g/ 11 mm/ Mintage: 15,000.
Horse races are immensely popular in Mongolia, just like in Europe. However, in one tiny detail they differ from our races: in Mongolia a racing horse will simply keep going if the rider falls off. The animals are then stopped by helpers behind the finish line.
Mongol horse with working saddle. Source: Latebird/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en.
By the way, violinists everywhere are confronted daily with Mongolian horses because their bows are usually made from a hank of horsehair.
The gilded silver coin’s innovative design once more graphically demonstrates the achievements of modern cutting techniques. The rearing horse’s silhouette stands out vividly from the metal.
The gold coin with a nominal value of 500 togrog also depicts a rearing horse.
Apropos Mongolia: Coin Invest Trust has only recently dedicated a collection coin to Chinggis Khan.
Previously, we have admired the beautiful simplicity of the Mongolian Wolf coin in the Mongolian Nature series.
More information on Coin Invest Trust and its coins here.
Believe it or not, Julia Roberts (!) in 1999 made a documentary about her journey to Mongolia! “Wild Horses of Mongolia” here on YouTube.