1.5 Euro Spain 2022 Endangered Species – Cantabrian Brown Bear

The largest land predator in the Iberian Peninsula. This plantigrade mammal, a subspecies of the European brown bear, can weigh up to 200 kg and live in the wild for 25 to 30 years. The Cantabrian brown bear usually lives in the sparsely populated areas of northern Spain, at an altitude of 1000 to 1800 meters above sea level. It is one of the bears with the longest reproductive cycle, with periods of 3-4 years between each reproductive season, which does not favor the spread of this species in environments that are already restricted to humans. The poaching of the bear as a hunting trophy and the reduction of its feeding and hiding area are a constant threat. In addition, an increase in human presence in their natural habitat will lead to an increase in conflict situations, which will negatively affect the survival of several hundred brown bears. Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and on the Spanish Red List of Threatened Species.

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 Cantabrian brown bear.

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