So, where in the wide world is the Sultanate of Pemba? Yes, I have ESP and read your mind. So let's get to the geography lesson first. About halfway up the east coast of Africa, sorta in that little nook, there are some islands off the coast of Tanzania. Of the two largest, the northernmost is Pemba, and the southernmost is...wait for it as you might have heard of this one...Unguja! Oh no, don't know it yet? Well most people just call it Zanzibar, after its capitol and largest city. Now you've heard of it. And, as a note, the island is officially part of Tanzania.
But this coin is from Pemba, the island north of Zanzibar, and it does have a bat on it. This is part of a wildlife series for that year with a different animal on each denomination, although for some reason they put a sailboat (the famous dhow) on the 500 fils coin.
So, let's take a look at the coin:
But this coin is from Pemba, the island north of Zanzibar, and it does have a bat on it. This is part of a wildlife series for that year with a different animal on each denomination, although for some reason they put a sailboat (the famous dhow) on the 500 fils coin.
So, let's take a look at the coin:
25 fils bat coin from the Sultanate of Pemba
A spiffy-looking coin. It is octagonal and just a hair bigger than a US quarter with lettering in both English and Arabic. The design is pretty clean with a clear focus on the bat. Which brings up the question of what bat is it? A generic bat or a specific bat? Well, I am going to have to guess here, but this should be right.
Pemba is home to 12 species of bats, three of them are flying foxes. And one of the flying foxes is quite special. It is endemic to Pemba and is a true giant, having a wingspan of over 5 feet!!! So it would only be right to put that bat on the coin. The bat is the Pemba Flying Fox (Pteropus Voeltzkowi). Almost pushed to extinction by the 1990s, a major conservation effort has helped restore populations from a few hundred bats to a currently estimated 20,000 individuals. I love a happy ending, but there is only so much habitat on the island and measures need to stay in place to keep this amazing bat around for future generations to marvel at.
Pemba is home to 12 species of bats, three of them are flying foxes. And one of the flying foxes is quite special. It is endemic to Pemba and is a true giant, having a wingspan of over 5 feet!!! So it would only be right to put that bat on the coin. The bat is the Pemba Flying Fox (Pteropus Voeltzkowi). Almost pushed to extinction by the 1990s, a major conservation effort has helped restore populations from a few hundred bats to a currently estimated 20,000 individuals. I love a happy ending, but there is only so much habitat on the island and measures need to stay in place to keep this amazing bat around for future generations to marvel at.
The flip side of the coin is a flower motif and says "Pemba 2013" in Arabic. I don't like to guess too much, but since I started above I will continue here. My theory is that this symbol represents spices, since Pemba is part of one of several areas known as the Spice Islands and, for your fact of the day, there are some 3.5 million clove trees on the island.
And finally, for the true coin nerd, this is not considered a "circulating issue" but exonumia. Sort of that which is very coin-like but not legal tender, which is also sometimes referred to as a Fantasy Issue. And there you have it.
And finally, for the true coin nerd, this is not considered a "circulating issue" but exonumia. Sort of that which is very coin-like but not legal tender, which is also sometimes referred to as a Fantasy Issue. And there you have it.
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