ISLE OF MAN 1 Crown 1997 Silver Proof 'Felis Silvestris Cat- History of the Cat'

Description

ISLE OF MAN 1 Crown 1997
Felis Silvestris Grampia - HISTORY OF THE CAT
The Isle of Man launched a series of crowns depicting the History of the Cat. These coins trace the development of the cat from wild origins to its revered position in ancient Egypt and to the modern-day Manx Cat from the Isle of Man.
Cats can be traced back to ancient times in Egypt and Rome.About 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians carved wooden figures of cats. They also made furniture and jewelry in the shape of cats. In ancient Rome, the cat was a symbol of liberty.
Somewhere between the First and Second Ice Ages, 900,000 to 600,000 years ago, a very special cat, felis sylvestris, made its appearance, and is still with us as the European Wildcat. During the Second Ice Age, the glaciers moved down from the north, driving him southward. At the same time, the Mediterranean and Black Seas were greatly reduced in size, providing many land bridges to the south into Africa and to the east around the foot of the Urals into Asia, allowing him to extend his domain into those regions.
As the ice receded the seas rose and the climates changed, the immi- grant species became isolated from each other by water, deserts, and mountains. Over time, those species of wildcat isolated in Africa became the Sand Cat, the African Wildcat, the Forest Cat, and the Black-Footed Cat, while the Asian version became the Chinese Desert Cat. There were, of course, several other subspecies that, for one
reason or another, didn't survive the changing landscape and climate.
One of felis sylvestris' many offshoots was felis lybica, the African Wildcat. He is still with us, but, more importantly, he is the immediate and primary ancestor of all domestic cats.
Limited Mintage  .
Coins specification :
1 Crown 1997 28.28 g., 0.925 silver 38.5 mm. km-778
History of the Cat
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Felis Silvestris Grampia
comes in its original capsule , including Mint Box & Certificate of Authenticity .
Rare coin
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