This is such a fun design for a coin, and I am so glad I was able to find some of these to paint!  Tuvalu isn't exactly a big source of coins, with less than 12,000 total population and out somewhere in the South Pacific between Hawaii and Australia.  
Just for the fun of it, here are 10 facts per the Smithsonian:

1. The Octopus has been an inspiration for monsters throughout history, but they are whip smart and many experts suggest we get to know these fascinating creatures more.
2. The Octopus is waaay old. The oldest known fossil found of one is from 296 million years ago.
   
3. The Octopus has 3 hearts. Two hearts work to move blood beyond the gills.  The third heart keeps circulation going for the organs.
4. The plural of octopus is octopuses.  The word comes from the Greek "oktopus" meaning "8 foot."
5. Aristotle thought octopuses were dumb. But the big brained octopus can navigate through mazes, solve problems and remember solutions, as well as take things apart for fun.
6. Octopus arms have a mind of their own. Two-thirds of an octopus' neurons reside in its arms, not its head. As a result, the arms can problem solve on their own.
7. Octopus ink doesn't just hide the animal.  The ink also physically harms enemies by blinding their eyes, garbles their sense of smell and taste.
8. Octopuses have blue blood.
9. After mating, its game over for octopuses. Mating and parenthood are brief affairs for octopuses, who die shortly after. 
10. Female Octopuses can lay up to 400,000 eggs, which they obsessively guard and tend to. After the eggs hatch, the female octopus' body fails and she dies.

I love this coin from Cyprus, such a beautiful design and such a delight for me to paint it.  Please watch the video and enjoy!
You can find it to purchase in my Etsy Shop:  Click Here

 

For close to a decade, I have been fostering underage kittens for my local Humane Society.  They can be as young as a day or two old, and then I foster them until they are old enough to be adopted at about 8 weeks old.
This is a slide show of many of my fosters, and I hope you enjoy seeing all these cuties!
​   -Ann