100 Dollars Kinkajou

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Reverse description	A kinkajou (Potos flavus) is depicted in left profile, perched upon a tree branch rendered in naturalistic detail. The animal's long prehensile tail curves gracefully behind its body, and fine engraving captures its characteristic rounded features and dense fur. The date '1982' appears in the field, and the design is enclosed by a beaded border following the inner circumference of the coin.
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Edge	Reeded
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Additional information	Belize gained independence from Britain in 1981, and this gold issue was part of a broader commemorative program the newly sovereign nation used to establish international numismatic presence — a common strategy among recently independent Caribbean and Central American states seeking foreign exchange revenue through collector coins. The kinkajou, a nocturnal rainforest mammal native to Belize's interior, was a deliberate choice of fauna distinct from the more predictable regional wildlife appearing on contemporaneous issues. The .500 fineness is notably low for a gold commemorative of this period, keeping production costs down while retaining the "gold coin" designation for marketing purposes.