Every Cat Has its Day – and a Coin from the Isle of Man

Scholars believe cats were first domesticated as far back as 10,000 years ago in northern Africa and ancient Egypt, with felines becoming a household mainstay throughout Europe and other parts of the world over the last 2,000 years. Feline fans rightfully hold these four-legged furries close to their hearts, even honoring them in late October with National Black Cat Day on October 27 and National Cat Day on October 29; both holidays situated near Halloween and honored to help encourage the shelter rescue and adoption of cats during peak shelter intake seasons in the United States.

However, cats have earned much more than just a day or two of national recognition. They have endeared themselves throughout culture. Felix the Cat, Sylvester, and Garfield are just a few of the many famous felines from the world of cartoons, while the silver screen has been graced by cat sidekicks, protagonists, and antagonists in films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Aristocats, The Cat from Outer Space, Milo and Otis, Oliver and Company, Homeward Bound, and Big Hero 6. Turn on a classic radio station, and you might hear tunes like “What’s New, Pussycat?” by Tom Jones, “Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart, or “Stray Cat Strut” by Stray Cats. And who could forget the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss or the long-running Broadway show Cats?

Numismatics certainly hasn’t forgotten about cats! In fact, Isle of Man devoted an entire series to felines with its aptly dubbed “Cat Coins.” This program, which began in 1988, was struck by the Pobjoy Mint and featured a different domestic or world cat breed each year, starting with the iconic manx and including such species as the Maine coon, Japanese bob tail, and many other beloved types. These coins have been issued in copper-nickel, sterling silver, and gold formats, and they enjoy such a following that they even have their own categories on the PCGS Set Registry!