Obverse. Photo © Aureo & Calicó
  • 25 Rials 1987, KM# 74, Oman, Qaboos bin Said, 15th Anniversary of the WWF, Masked Booby
  • 25 Rials 1987, KM# 74, Oman, Qaboos bin Said, 15th Anniversary of the WWF, Masked Booby
Description

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), established in 1961 and initially known as the World Wildlife Fund in Canada and the United States, is a prominent Swiss-based international non-governmental organization dedicated to wilderness preservation and mitigating human impact on the environment. Operating in over 100 countries with more than five million supporters worldwide, WWF oversees approximately 3,000 conservation and environmental projects, having invested over $1 billion in over 12,000 conservation initiatives since 1995. Funded primarily by individuals and bequests (65%), government sources (17%), and corporations (8%), WWF strives to halt environmental degradation and foster a future where humans coexist harmoniously with nature. Through initiatives like the Living Planet Report, Earth Hour, and Debt-for-nature swap, WWF focuses its efforts on food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans, though it has faced criticism for its corporate associations and its impact on local communities.

Obverse

National Emblem of Oman, surrounded by date in Hijri and Georgian calendar years above and legend "Central Bank of Oman" below.

The national emblem of Oman is an insignia consisting of a khanjar inside its sheath that is superimposed upon two crossed swords. Adopted in the 18th century as the badge of the Omani royal family, it subsequently became the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman. The emblem is featured at the canton on the Flag of Oman.

A khanjar (Arabic: خنجر‎‎, Persian: خنجر‎‎, Turkish: Hançer) is a traditional dagger originating from Oman. Worn by men for ceremonial occasions, it is a short curved sword shaped like the letter "J" and resembles a hook. It can be made from a variety of different materials, depending on the quality of its craftsmanship. It is a popular souvenir among tourists and is sold in souqs throughout the region. A national symbol of the sultanate, the khanjar is featured on the country's national emblem and on the Omani rial. It is also utilized in logos and commercial imagery by companies based in Oman.

١٤٠٧هـ ١٩٨٧مـ
البنك المركزي العماني

Reverse

Depicts masked booby over rocks in front of the sea, denomination in Arabic above.

The masked booby (Sula dactylatra), also known as the masked gannet or blue-faced booby, belongs to the booby and gannet family, Sulidae, and is a large seabird. It was initially described by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831 and is one of six species of booby within the genus Sula. Sporting a typical sulid body structure, it features a long pointed yellowish bill, elongated neck, streamlined body, slender wings, and pointed tail. As the largest species of booby, adults measure 75–85 cm (30–33 in) in length and exhibit bright white plumage with black wings, a black tail, and a dark face mask. Both sexes display similar plumage. Found across tropical oceans, except in the eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific, this species is succeeded by the Nazca booby (Sula granti) in the latter region, previously considered a subspecies of the masked booby.

٢٥ ريالا عمانيا

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.917
Weight 10.17 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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