Coin designs showing tiny distant birds in the sky

[chrisild]

Seems that birds are primarily used to populate the empty space around, say, a lighthouse or similar tower. Usually they might as well be left out, and I definitely do not have the "horror vacui" problem that some coin designers have.   But once in a while I think that yes, birds could have helped. Germany 2008, "Hamburg" from the German States series. Link only as the piece does not have what this topic is about.

[<k>]

Seems that birds are primarily used to populate the empty space around, say, a lighthouse or similar tower.

Yes. The other option is to use clouds.

[<k>]

Ukraine, 200 000, karbovantsiv 1995.

Hero city of Odesa.

[<k>]

Botswana, 1 pula, 2013.

Look at the birds in the sky. I count three. Do you?


I have seen several images of this coin over the years.

Amazingly, I did not notice the birds until today.

It must be a conspiracy. 


Who made me not notice these birds?

Who noticed them and did not tell me about them?


And now the important question.

Of what species are these birds?

[andyg]

They are Zebra finch, shown just before they attack the Zebra to carry it off back to their nest to feed their hungry chicks.
This is why the Zebra is moving so quickly to try to take cover.

[<k>]

I see. Hate language against the poor zebra finches now.

I'll bet that carries a prison sentence too. 

[<k>]

My brother-in-law is a bird watcher. He has trained and flown hawks. He says of the birds on the Botswana 1 pula coin:

I wouldn't bet on any specific type. They are just stylised birds at the far right. It could be a raptor - short neck, long tail, or a goose flying backwards.

[<k>]

Poland, 10 zlotych, 1965.

700th anniversary of Warsaw.

[<k>]

Liberia, 5 cents, 1984.