The Mint of Poland is delighted to present the coin of the enchanting “Man’s Best Friends” collection designed for all cats’ enthusiasts in whose hearts and minds these pets hold a special place.

The British Shorthair is the largest of all short-haired cats. They are perfect domestic cats recognized by their incredible intelligence and gentle character. This breed descends from the cats brought to the British Isles by the Roman legions. The cats were to be used to provide protection against pests consuming legionnaires’ food supplies. After World War II, the existence of the breed was threatened. Therefore, in the 1950s, breeders decided to cross the British Shorthair with the Blue Persian Cat reinforcing the population and improving the features of the breed.

This stunning coin with a multi-coloured image of the British Shorthair cat set with crystals will be a gift which cannot be forgotten. The dazzling beauty and magical aura of the British Shorthair cat makes this coin an item that will add splendour to each collection.

In the central part of the obverse – a profile portrait of  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Below – inscriptions: Ag 999 (the hallmark), m/w (the mint mark). Along the rim – inscriptions: ELIZABETH II, NIUE ISLAND (the issuer), 1 DOLLAR (the face value) and the year of  issue: 2014.

In the central part of reverse – a multi-coloured image of a British Shorthair cat. In the background – an image of a cat of this breed recreated in relief. Above – the name of the breed in English and Polish: BRITISH SHORTHAIR / KOT BRYTYJSKI. Along the rim – decorative elements depicting cat paw prints.