- Mintage Limit ONLY - 2500
- Each coin is struck from 1oz of pure silver
- Coin with High relief
- Coin in capsule+with Certificate of Authenticity + Presentation Case
The latest pearl of the hugely popular Marine Life series is set in a Triton trumpet which, thanks to smartminting, rises well above the background scenery. Due to the ultra-high relief it seems lifelike and within reach.
Charonia tritonis
Charonia tritonis, common name the Triton's trumpet or the giant triton, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, the tritons. Reaching up to two feet (or 60 cm) in shell length this is one of the biggest mollusks in the coral reef. The shell is well known as a decorative object, and is sometimes modified for use as a trumpet (such as the Japanese horagai or the Māori putatara). Charonia tritonis is one of the few animals to feed on the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. Occasional plagues of this large and destructive starfish have killed extensive areas of coral on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia and the western Pacific reefs. The triton has been described as tearing the starfish to pieces with its file-like radula.
Much debate has occurred on whether plagues of crown-of-thorns starfish are natural or are caused by overfishing of the few organisms that can eat this starfish, including C. tritonis. In 1994, Australia proposed that C. tritonis should be put on the CITES list, thereby attempting to protect the species. Because of a lack of trade data concerning this seashell, the Berne Criteria from CITES were not met, and the proposal was consequently withdrawn.