photo of a petroglyph on display at a museum depicting the unmistakeable silhouette of an aardvark on a brown stone
#NationalAardvarkWeek: #DYK #aardvarks are endemic to Africa? They appear as rock art at a number of sites across their native range. Here is a petroglyph on display at the National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria, South Africa: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Na...
#AardvarksAareAawesome
Digital scan of a monochrome b/w book plate, illustration of three aardvarks feeding in their native habitat with moon in the sky (they are primarily nocturnal). Caption: THE AARD-VARK. - Here is one of the most clumsy, odd looking animals in the world. The name, which is Dutch, signifies "Ground-hog," although the animal is very widely different from that which we know by the same name. It lives in southern and central Africa. Its coarse, bristle-like hair, long tail, elongated head and ears, strong claws, and long tongue make a strange picture. (Orycteropus capensis.)
#NationalAardvarkWeek insult from Brehm's Life of Animals: Vol. 1, Mammalia, 1895: "Here is one of the most clumsy, odd looking animals in the world." Wow, rude! #AardvarksAareAawesome - they’re actually quite swift & agile & can defend themselves well - see thread below!
BHL: flic.kr/p/atGEHQ
Issuer: Zambia Period: Republic (1964-date) Type: Standard circulation coin Years: 1982-1983 (note: a bronze version was also in circulation from 1968-1978) Value: 1 Ngwee (0.01 ZMK) Currency: Kwacha (1968-2012) Composition: Copper clad steel Weight: 2.1 g Diameter: 17.5 mm Thickness: 1.45 mm Shape: Round Technique: Milled Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑ Demonetized: Yes Number: N# 2628 References: KM# 9a Obverse: Kenneth Kaunda, president of Zambia, facing right, date below; Script: Latin; Lettering: ZAMBIA 1983 Reverse: Aardvark (Orycteropus afer), value below; Script: Latin; Lettering: 1 ONE NGWEE Engraver: Norman Sillman Edge: Plain Mint: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date) image: nordboutik59 / Numista https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2628.html
Issuer: Zambia Period: Republic (1964-date) Type: Standard banknote Years: 2003-2012 Value: 1000 Kwacha (1000 ZMK) Currency: Kwacha (1968-2012) Composition: Polymer Size: 140 × 70 mm Shape: Rectangular Demonetized: 30 June 2013 Number: N# 204063 References: P# 44 Obverse: Eagle, Tree; Lettering: Bank of Zambia, I promise to pay the bearer on demand, one thousand kwacha, For the bank of Zambia, (signature), Governor Reverse: Aardvark, Farmer on tractor, Liberty Monument; Lettering: Bank of Zambia, One thousand kwacha Watermark: African Fish Eagle head, National bird of Zambia Printers: Notes from 2003 - 2006 (P#44a - e) were printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company, notes from 2008 - 2009 (P#44f - g) were printed by the South African Bank Note Company, and notes from 2011 - 2002 (P#44h - i) were printed by Giesecke + Devrient. image: hex7ech / Numista https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note204063.html
Issuer: The Gambia Period: Republic (1970-date) Type: Non-circulating coin Year: 1977 Value: 40 Dalasis Currency: Dalasi (1971-date) Composition: Silver (.925) (Copper .075) Weight: 35 g Diameter: 42 mm Thickness: 2.87 mm Shape: Round Technique: Milled Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑ Number: N# 38651 References: KM# 18, Schön# 17 Obverse: Effigy of president Sir Dawda Jawara facing left, date to the right; Script: Latin; Lettering: REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA - 1977 Reverse: Aardvark; Script: Latin; Lettering: 40 DALASIS Edge: Reeded Engraver: Michael Rizzello Mint: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date) image: G.GILLES / Numista https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces38651.html
#NationalAardvarkWeek shoutout to Zambia for putting an #aardvark on both a circulating coin & banknote - the only country cool enough to have ever done either. Honorable mention to The Gambia for once issuing a commemorative coin with an aardvark too.
[images via Numista]
#AardvarksAareAawesome
Official museum photo of object: An aardvark figurine carved in banded agate in shades of brown, blue, ochre and grey, with rose diamond eyes; measurements 4.3 x 6.8 x 2.8 cm.
Happy #NationalAardvarkWeek!
Here is a one-of-a-kind piece from Fabergé: this lovely little agate aardvark with rose diamond eyes c. 1910 was bought by King George V in 1914 from Fabergé's London branch for £18. It's now in the Royal Collection Trust: rct.uk/collection/4...
#aardvarksaareaawesome
