| Coin | Gold Five Ounces 2015 Australian Fabulous Four - Kangaroo |
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The Australian five ounces gold piece (abbreviated as 5 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.
Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used.
This gold coin is a special edition celebrating the Australian Fabulous Four animals, and is dedicated to the Kangaroo. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA · 500 DOLLARS ·.
The rim is wide, and is decorated with Australian native plants. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin's reverse depicts the four most famous Australian animals - kangaroo, koala, kookaburra and emu - united together on a background representing the map of Australia. The kangaroo is in the foreground.
Around above left, the inscription AUSTRALIAN FABULOUS FOUR. Around below, the date of issue 2015.
Around below right, the precious metal content: 5 oz .9999 Au (five troy ounces of 99.99% gold). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
AUSTRALIAN FABULOUS FOUR 2015 5 oz .9999 Au |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
The coin is housed in a prestigious wooden display case, within an illustrated shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. The serial number is also engraved on a gold-coloured plate embedded in the box.
RAM Product Code: 510786.
The coin was issued for exclusive distribution through EMK. Limited mintage of 99 pieces was sold out according to the Royal Australian Mint's annual report for the 2015-2016 financial year.
It seems that a four-coin series was envisioned, but only the kangaroo in 2015 and a koala in 2016 were produced. |
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Search for Australia: Gold Five Ounces 2015 Australian Fabulous Four - Kangaroo on eBay 