Lion Ceves (Cave Lion)

The cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea) also known as the European or Eurasian cave lion, is an extinct subspecies of lion known from fossils and multiple examples of prehistoric art. The cave lion (Panthera spelea) was derived from the earlier Panthera leo fossilis, which first appeared in Europe about 700,000 years ago. The cave lion itself lived from 370,000 to 10,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch. Apparently, it became extinct about 10,000 years ago, during the Würm glaciation, although there are some indications it may have existed into historic times in southeastern Europe, as recently as 2,000 years ago in the Balkans. Cave lions were widespread in parts of Europe and Asia, from Great Britain, Germany and Spain (Arduini & Teruzzi, 1993) all the way to the Bering Strait and from Siberia to Turkistan.

Transnistria 2008 Lion Ceves (Cave Lion)
Obverse: 
in the centre of the coin there is an image of the State Emblem of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublika with the circular inscriptions in Cyrillic "ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКИЙ РЕСПУБЛИКАНСКИЙ БАНК" (Pridnestrivskii Respublikanskii Bank) in Cyrillic around the image and the indication of the face value of the coin "5 РУБЛЕЙ" (5 RUBLES) at the bottom. The issue year “2008 “ is under the image.
Reverse: 
On centre an image of the Deer with large horns. Above: from left to right inscription "ЗАПОВЕДНИК КОЛКОТОВА БАЛКА" (The Reserve "Kolkotov ravine), on the right - "ПЕЩЕРНЫЙ ЛЕВ" (Ceves lion ).
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
PMR160CM1
Value: 
€110
Mintage: 
500
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.925
Weight: 
33.85g
Diameter: 
39mm
Year: 
Shape and style: 
Edge: 
Animals: 
Source of information: