Silver coin ” I am the biggest”

The Lithuanian Mint is continuing its acquaintance with the unparalleled beauty of wild Africa and presents a new piece from the ‘Wild Africa’ series – a collectible coin that celebrates the owner of exceptional eyes, the bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).

The coin, titled ‘I am the biggest’, features the mesmerising eye of the bigfin reef squid. A special UV varnish technology was used to achieve its verisimilitude, and the eye is curved outward as if a real squid was looking at you. The coin depicts the eye of Sepioteuthis lessoniana for a very special reason: this species of squids has a second transparent cornea, fully covering each large eye. As a result, the bigfin reef squid can both observe its prey and be aware of oncoming predators at the same time. Moreover, such impressive eyes help this creature navigate itself in the dark depths of the ocean – the bigfin reef squid can dive several hundred meters and more.

Although the lifespan of the bigfin reef squid is usually short, approx. a year, these squids are interesting aquatic creatures, as they captivate scientists and researchers by exhibiting complex mating and spawning displays in the spring. These squids are also remarkable for their capability to change body colour upon hatching. Sepioteuthis lessoniana are found mostly in the temperate and tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans – it is possible to spot these squids near the shoreline because they usually hang around the rocks and coral reefs.