1.5 euro Spain 2022 Endangered Species – Javan Rhinoceros

It is one of the five species of rhinoceros. Slightly smaller than its continental relative, the Indian rhinoceros, this rhinoceros from the Asian island of Java has less developed skin plates, and of all rhinos, it has the least developed horn, which sometimes does not appear in females, or if it does, it is in the form of a small protrusion. Due to the lack of captive individuals, little is known about their social, reproductive and behavioral aspects. Initially, populations of these rhinos also existed throughout Southeast Asia, in India and southern China, but they have long since become extinct, and approximately 60 rhinos live in the wild in Ujung Kulon National Park. Therefore, the risk of their disappearance is extremely high. The absurd notion of the aphrodisiac and healing properties of its little horn has spurred its poaching in the past, which, together with the disappearance of its habitats, has led to a sharp decline in the number of individuals for decades, making it currently one of the rarest species of large animals on Earth, in fact, which also entails very poor genetic diversity and the possibility that any disease could finally kill this “little giant”.

The coins of Spain were issued in a special design with enameling on the obverse, which ensures greater realism of the image.

The obverse of the Spanish 1.5 euro coin depicts the Javan rhinoceros.

The reverse (common to all coins) depicts a floral ornament and animal tracks, the denomination and the inscription ANIMALES EN PELIGRO DE EXTINCIÓN (Endangered Animals).

Alloy: copper-nickel

Denomination: 1.5 euro

Weight: 15 grams

Diameter: 33mm

Quality: UNC

Circulation: 5000 pcs

The coin was released in Spain’s 2022 collection “Endangered Species”

The collection includes 16 coins:

African elephant

Giant otter

Iberian lynx

Giant lizard of La Gomera

Monk seal

Philippine eagle

Ring-tailed lemur

Bengal tiger

Blue iguana

Cantabrian brown bear

European mink

Gorilla

Irrawaddy Dolphin

Javan rhinoceros

Okapi

Orangutan