Palau – 2009 – 1 Dollar – Barn Swallow Prism (PROOF)

Description

Country: Palau
Year: 2009
Face value: 1 Dollar
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 26 g
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Quality: Prooflike
Mintage: 2’500 pcs

This year the new Prism series of Palau show a fish, a reptile and a bird and therewith gives an exquisite colourful association with the elements earth, water and air.

The Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus) distinguishes itself by its intensive yellow body colouring and its eye-catching intense blue coloured mouth. Mostly in pairs it lives in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and feeds on sponges and small crabs. Because of its attractive appearance this 15-30 cm fish is a very popular guest in aquariums around the world. Interestingly the Flagfin Angelfish is capable of developing its sex after birth. Probably it possesses the ability to adapt itself to the number of the already existent fish of the same sex in its environment.

The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) belongs to the order of Squamata. Its natural habitat is on cliffs and in Southeast Asian rain forests. Fully-grown it attains a length of about 35 cm. The nocturnal Tokay has its name from the male?s distinctive and often very loud cries. This sounds like ?to-kay? or ?ge-cko?. Due to its lamellar structure on its fingers and toes the Tokay has, as many other Saurian?s, the ability to climb up trees, walls and even up window panes vertically. In Asia the okay is believed to be a lucky charm and a fertility symbol.

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is common in the whole world. It spends its breeding season in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. For hibernation it flies thousands of kilometres to the south. The Barn Swallow distinguishes itself from other swallows by its eye-catching long outer tail feathers, its chestnut-brown throat and the brownish coloured belly feathers. As the name already implies it preferably builds its nest in barns. The swallow who is a springtime messenger stands for good fortune and fertility. In the tattooing skill the Barn Swallow stood for long voyages and a happy homecoming.