May 13 is Frog Jumping Day. According to many sources, this unofficial holiday is inspired by Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog, a short story by Mark Twain. However, it is unclear why May 13 was chosen as the date for the holiday. Read along to learn about the Frogs featured on various Coins and Banknotes.
Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog, also known as The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, is about Jim Smiley, a gambler who trained a frog to jump for three months. A stranger visits Calaveras County and bets against Smiley’s claim that his frog is the highest jumper in the county. While the stranger tricked Smiley into finding another frog for the bet, he stuffed Smiley’s frog with lead, leading to Smiley’s defeat. When Smiley tried to chase the stranger for cheating, the stranger disappeared.
Frogs are short-bodied, tailless amphibians that make up the biological order Anura. Frogs live in a variety of biodiverse regions, from the tropics to subarctic regions. However, the greatest concentration of species diversity is in the tropical rainforest. Because frogs are frequently found in the tropics, countries in that region often feature frogs on their banknotes and coins.
For example, the 20-dobra note from Sao Tome e Principe shows the Sao Tome giant treefrog climbing a branch. The green note from 2016 also shows a butterfly in front.
The 20-dollar commemorative note from Bermuda features a whistling frog surrounded by flowers. The green note from 2009 commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Bermuda Monetary Authority and the 400th anniversary of the settlement of the Bermuda Islands.
The 100-ariary note from Madagascar highlights a Barons mantella frog native to the rainforests of Madagascar. The colorful note also features the Cathedrale d’ Ambozontany.
The red 5-Bolivar Soberano note from Venezuela features the Veragua stub foot toad in the Henri Pittier National Park. It also shows the national hero Jose Felix Ribas.
The 1-sol coin from Peru features the Titicaca water frog, an endangered species of frog from Peru. The coin is part of the Endangered Wildlife of Peru series, highlighting endemic species and wildlife conservation.
The 500-peso coin from Colombia features a glass frog. The glass frog is locally known as the Rana de Cristal. Its scientific name is Anura centrolenidae.
