Product Details

We proudly present the second release in the ‘Fury of Nature’ series: ‘Dinosaur Extinction’ silver coin. On the reverse, an intense scene captures the asteroid impact that changed Earth’s history, complete with a startled T-Rex and Brachiosaurus fleeing imminent doom.

The obverse, issued as legal tender for Palau, presents the modern-day consequence—dinosaur fossils displayed in a museum setting, complete with skeletal exhibits and namecards.

Struck using enhanced Smartminting© technology, this stunning collector coin boasts ultra-high relief on both sides, complemented by antique finish and vibrant color elements. Minted from 2 troy ounces of 99.9% pure silver with a 45 mm diameter, each coin comes in a beautiful box, certificate of authenticity and is limited to just 555 pieces worldwide.

The design:

The reverse shows Earth’s prehistoric landscape with a colossal, partially colored asteroid in the background while a T-Rex and Brachiosaurus are depicted fleeing from the fiery impact. It reflects the cataclysm that caught them unprepared, ultimately leading to their extinction.

The obverse side of the coin depicts a modern museum scene featuring detailed dinosaur skeletons and namecards. At the top is the Coat of Arms of Palau, accompanied by the inscriptions “REPUBLIC OF PALAU” (the issuing country) and “10 DOLLARS” (the face value) plus “2024” (the year of issue) at the bottom.

Backstory:

Around 66 million years ago, dinosaurs dominated Earth’s ecosystems, ranging from towering herbivores like Triceratops to powerful predators like the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Their reign came to a sudden and catastrophic end when a 10 to 15-kilometer-wide asteroid struck near present-day Chicxulub, Mexico. The impact released energy equivalent to billions of nuclear bombs, igniting wildfires and sending vast amounts of dust and debris into the atmosphere. This blocked sunlight for months or even years, leading to a dramatic global temperature drop and the collapse of ecosystems.

Without sunlight, plants died, starving the herbivores, which in turn caused carnivores to perish. 75% of Earth’s species vanished, including nearly all dinosaurs, except for their avian descendants—modern birds. Ocean life also suffered as acid rain and cooling temperatures disrupted marine ecosystems. In the aftermath, small mammals, which had lived in the dinosaurs’ shadow, survived and thrived, eventually shaping the evolution of life in the post-dinosaur world.