The fourth edition of the successful butterfly series is here. It shows the Gold-banded Forester (Euphaedra neophron). It sits, virtually lifelike, in a winged 3D-technique on the silver coin and looks like it could fly away at any moment.The Gold-banded Forester is a member of the Nymphalidae family and is found in eastern and southern Africa. This graceful butterfly is mostly seen in dense tropical forests throughout the year.

The main flight time lies between February and July. Even as a caterpillar, the Gold-banded Forester shows a remarkable array of colours. Following metamorphosis, it presents itself as a magnificent butterfly of an impressive size. The female’s wingspan reaches up to 78 mm.

The delicate wing colouring runs from the inside outward and from light to dark blue. The broad orange-black stripes on the wing tips and the beautiful metallic shimmer create the characteristic play of colours of the Gold-banded Forester.