Animal mother and child

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The sow and piglets design appeared on Ireland's pre-decimal halfpenny.

It was first issued in the 1920s as part of the famous "barnyard series".

It was probably the first modern coin design to feature an animal and her young.

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The Irish penny appeared simultaneously of course, depicting the famous hen and chicks.

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Tonga issued a FAO plan coin in 1975 (5 seniti), also depicting a hen and chicks.

Perhaps the artist was paying homage to Percy Metcalfe's design on the Irish penny.

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In 1964, Malawi released a florin, whose reverse portrayed and elephant mother with calf. This was, to my knowledge, the first time (in modern times) that a coin design had emulated Metcalfe's famous coin designs of the 1920s. This time, of course, we were dealing with a much more exotic species.

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Malawi moved to a decimal coinage in 1971.

The elephant and calf were then transferred to the 20 tambala coin.

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After the Tonga hen and chicks design on the 5 seniti, it was a while before an animal mother and child design once more appeared on a coin, but in 1986 Tanzania released a 100 shilingi collector coin, with a superb design depicting an elephant mother and calf. It was surely inspired by the old Malawi florin.

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In 1990 the design was transferred to a circulation Tanzanian 20 shilingi coin.

The design looked even more attractive in its new seven-sided format.

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In 1996 Tanzania released a 50 shilingi circulation coin, depicting a mother rhino and calf.

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In 1998 Tanzania issued another circulation coin depicting an animal mother and child.

This time a lioness and her cub provided the theme for the coin.

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Ugandan collector coin of 1968.

A 5 shillings coin depicting a calf feeding from its mother.

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Canada, 1 dollar, 2012.  Mother loon and children.

[paisepagal]

Mexico $5 Lobos Mexicanos WWF 1997

[chrisild]

An other elephant and calf, on the Eritrean 100 cents of 1997, a circulation coin.

... designed by Clarence Holbert, by the way:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/25550/one-for-the-money/
http://www.panix.com/~clay/currency/Clarence_Holbert.pdf



As for the Irish coins, they continued the theme. But on €15 proof collector coins only: Horse and Foal 2010, Salmon and ... hmm, little salmon 2011, Dog and Puppy 2012 (that last one comes in October). Attached is the image (from the central bank) of the salmon piece, "inspired" by the earlier florin and 10p design.

Christian

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Somaliland, 5 shillings, 2005.  Elephant mother and calf.

The country is not recognised, so we cannot be sure if this collector piece is even an official issue from an unofficial country. 

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Eritrea, 1 dollar, 1994.  Cheetahs.  Preserve Planet Earth.