You might not feel like going for a swim with sharks, but you can certainly add this one to your collection or investments when you’re buying silver. The 2018 Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark Coin represents the most recent release in the Highland Mint’s Tokelau Series. The coins in this series represent the vast aquatic riches of the Pacific Ocean that surround the island nation of Tokelau.
With .999 pure silver content and a beautiful new design in each release, these coins are ideal for the investor and collector inside every numismatist. Now available to purchase from JM Bullion, learn more about this exciting new coin, the series it comes from, the mint behind it, and the nation it represents.
The 2018 Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark
Introduced in 2014, the Tokelau Series from the Highland Mint focuses on aquatic species found throughout the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Some of the animals featured in the collection to date are found closer to the island of Tokelau, while those such as the Leopard Shark are residents of the wider Pacific Ocean and not found near the shores of Tokelau.
Prior to the release of this coin, the Tokelau Series featured the Tuna, Sailfish, Great White Shark, and Barracuda coins (in order). Now, the 5th coin debuts with the Leopard Shark as the primary animal of focus. The features of the 2018 Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark Coin include the following:
- Coins arrive in plastic flips for individual coins, mint tubes for multiples of 20, or boxes of 500 coins. The box contains 25 tubes in total.
- 5th release in the series!
- Limited mintage of only 250,000 coins!
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver in BU condition.
- Bears a face value of 5 Dollars backed by the government of Tokelau.
On the obverse of the Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark Coins is the image of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty’s effigy is featured in right-profile relief and is based upon the 1998, fourth-generation depiction created by Ian Rank-Broadley. Also included on this face of the coin is the national symbol of Tokelau; the Tuluma. A Tuluma is a wooden tackle box used by the traditional fishermen of Tokelau over the course of generations. There is an engraving of “Tokelau mot e Atua,” which translates as “Tokelau for God.”
The reverse of the 2018 1 oz Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark Coin features the image of the shark as it glides through the waters. The leopard shark is so-named because of its leopard-like markings that give the otherwise gray body patches of black markings. Each coin’s reverse has engravings of the nation of issue along with the English language and Tokelauan language names for the beast as “Mago Taguta,” and “Leopard Shark.”
About the Leopard Shark
The leopard shark is a species of houndshark found along the Pacific coast of North America. Populations of the shark can be found from as far north as the US state of Oregon to the shores of Mazatlan, Mexico in the south. The sharks in this species typically measure anywhere from 3.9 to 4.9 feet in length and have long, slender bodies compared to other shark breeds. Leopard sharks are considered swimming predators, moving in groups to follow the tide onto intertidal mudflats where they can forage for food.
While most humans fear sharks of any species, the leopard shark is relatively harmless to humans. Leopard sharks are not found in and around the three atolls that make up Tokelau because they prefer cool to warm waters found along continental shelves on the Pacific Ocean. Specifically, from Coos Bay in Oregon down to the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California and around into the Gulf of California between Baja and mainland Mexico.
Interestingly enough, this small strip of land extending from the border with the US down along the Mexican coast serves to separate the sharks and provide a small bit of genetic divergence. Sharks along the Pacific Ocean side of Baja California have slight genetic differences from those living in the northernmost reaches of the Gulf of California between the Baja peninsula and mainland Mexico.
Background on the Highland Mint
Florida’s Highland Mint was founded in the 1980s, and is best known for producing silver commemorative medals and licensed products for professional sports teams from America’s major sporting leagues, as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It does also produce silver rounds with .999 pure silver content. The Tokelau Series is currently one of the mint’s most visible and diverse programs offering silver bullion to precious metal enthusiasts.
Get to Know Tokelau
Tokelau is an island country located in the southern Pacific Ocean. There are a total of three, tropical coral atolls that make up the nation of Tokelau with a combined area of 4 square miles. These atolls are Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. The islands have a rotating capital that is changed yearly between the three atolls. Today, Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand, however both New Zealand and the islands view themselves differently.
Tokelau has its own government in place and the nation of New Zealand views them as an independent nation with close relations, but the UN General Assembly regards Tokelau as a non-self-governing territory. Here’s some interesting facts on Tokelau:
- It has the fourth-smallest population of any sovereign state or dependency in the world
- It is a leader in renewable energy, with 100% of energy consumed coming from solar power
- Elections are held every three years, and all candidates run as independents. There are no political parties in Tokelau
- The nation has an immigrant percentage of 25.4% of its population, higher than those of France and Canada
Shop with JM Bullion
The 2018 Tokelau Silver Leopard Shark is available to you today, so don’t hesitate to act. Call us now or go online to shop for the new coin in the Tokelau Series. As always, follow us on Facebook to learn more about new coin releases and interesting information in the precious metals industry.
