Silver coin Cat Breeds - Egyptian Mau proof

The eighth silver coin in the Czech Mint's Cat Breeds series features the Egyptian Mau.

It is said that the history of this breed, whose name means ‘cat’ in Egyptian, dates back 3,500 years. Ancient Egyptian paintings depict cats of the same colour belonging to the pharaohs. This medium-sized, short-haired beast has an athletic body adapted to an active life – it is the fastest of all cats, yet it appears gentle and elegant. Its alert expression is dominated by piercing green eyes and rounded ears set far apart. Its shiny coat immediately catches the eye with its spotted pattern, with evenly spaced round or oval spots. The Egyptian Mau is affectionate and playful. It needs plenty of attention and does not like to be alone. It prefers warmth and does not tolerate cold weather well.

On the reverse side of the coin, which is the work of medal maker David Kružliak, the mau appears twice. The first image is coloured, highlighting the characteristic pattern of the coat. The second, which is embossed, shows the cat in the form of an Egyptian idol sitting in front of the pyramids. The composition is completed by a Czech-English inscription EGYPTSKÁ MAU – EGYPTIAN MAU. On the obverse side, which is common to the entire series, you will find the silhouette of a cat and paw prints. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with a foreign licence from the island of Niue, they also bear the island's national emblem, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD) and the year of issue, 2025.

All twelve coins from the Cat Breeds series can be stored in a spectacular collector's book, which is also available from the Czech Mint.

Breeder of the cat depicted on the coin and source of the photograph used: Jana Součková, CHS Yá Moasi, CZ