After opening the Isle of Man cat series with the native Manx in 1988, the Pobjoy Mint turned to one of the best-known pedigree breeds of all for its second year. This 1989 proof coin, struck in gold at 1/20 ounce, is dedicated to the Persian.

The Cat Fanciers' Association, founded in 1906, counted the Persian among its foundation breeds, and its standard still asks for a round, massive head with great breadth of skull, a short snub nose, large round eyes set wide apart and small low-set ears. The long, dense coat stands away from the body and needs regular combing.

The breed's ancestors were long-haired cats exported from Iran and Afghanistan from the nineteenth century; the name Persian was a European label. The extreme flat face came later, mostly in the United States, while the traditional type keeps a short but not flattened muzzle. On a proof strike, the frosted relief suits the volume of the coat.