New gold coin collection pays tribute to the avian fauna of Seychelles

A set of the unique limited edition of gold coins paying tribute to the unique birdlife of the Seychelles islands that was officially launched today. (Joena Bonnelame, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - A unique limited edition of gold coins paying tribute to the unique birdlife of the Seychelles islands was officially launched today. MINT, a Seychelles-based gold coin company, invited members of the media to the launch held at the Seychelles International Airport departure lounge.

The exquisitely crafted coins, produced by a British mint company, commemorate five of the Seychelles’ most extraordinary bird species, each carefully wrought in gold. MINT has thus far produced only 250 coins of each type in the series. The coins have a limited mintage of 1000 per coin.

Collectors will find the pieces not only a timeless work of art but also a solid investment for the future, as gold is one of the most popular forms of natural resource investment in the world. 

The set of coins feature the islands’ only bird of prey, the Seychelles kestrel, the endangered Seychelles Scops Owl, the iconic Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher, the Seychelles Blue Pigeon and the Seychelles Bulbul, all treasured in the Seychelles as rare and beautiful birds.

MINT’s Director, Rod Thorrington, who is also the Managing Director of high-end jewellery retailer JOUEL, said at the launch event that the presence of MINT brings an added value to the range of duty-free products on offer to passengers departing the Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands off the eastern coast of Africa.

“We conceived this idea two years ago and finally today the launch of a product with a collection of five artisan-designed gold coins which are the first in a series of coins inspired by the Seychelles’ exquisite natural landscape and are now available as souvenirs and collectors’ items at the Seychelles International Airport at duty-free prices,” Thorrington said.

Addressing a small group of invited guests, which included the Seychelles Central Bank Governor, Caroline Abel, and Finance, Trade and Investment Minister Pierre Laporte, Thorrington said that the limited mintage coins were legal tender coins recognized and endorsed by the Central Bank of Seychelles.

The coins will retail duty-free from between 450 Euros for one single gold coin to around 2,500 Euros for a set of five gold coins. Next year, the company plans to make the coins available for orders and purchasing online.

Each coin or coin set is sold in a sealed acrylic case and packaged in a custom wooden box, along with a certificate of authenticity.