Catalog
5 Rupees Astrochelys Yniphora
| Issuer | Seychelles |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Reverse description | A full-colour realistic depiction of an Astrochelys yniphora (ploughshare tortoise) occupies the central field, rendered in naturalistic tones of brown, gold, and black, showing the distinctive domed carapace with pronounced scute patterning. The tortoise is shown in profile facing left, with detailed texture visible on the limbs and head. The curved legend ASTROCHELYS YNIPHORA arcs around the upper field in raised lettering. The date 2025 appears in the lower exergue, flanked by small foliate ornaments. |
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| Mintage | 2025 |
| Additional information |
Astrochelys yniphora — the ploughshare tortoise — is restricted to a single location in northwestern Madagascar, the Baly Bay area, making it one of the most geographically constrained large tortoises on earth. Demand from the illegal pet trade has been catastrophic; smugglers target juveniles specifically because the distinctive shell shape is prized by collectors in Southeast Asia, and confiscations at Bangkok airport have become depressingly routine.
Seychelles has issued conservation-themed coinage for decades, often in partnership with wildlife organizations funding field programs directly through seigniorage.