Gold Half Ounce 2012 Discover Australia - Goanna, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian half-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1/2 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 half-ounce gold coin is part of the 2012 Discover Australia Coin Series by the Perth Mint and features a Goanna.

Each of the five coin in the series depicts artistry inspired by the beautiful Australian landscape and its wildlife. The Goanna, one of Australia’s largest monitor lizards, is found throughout most of Australia in a variety of environments. These reptiles are usually dark grey to black in colour and display cream or yellow scales, which form bands and spots, in contrast. Using their powerful legs and tail, long neck and strong claws, the Goanna can move quickly across the ground and among tree branches, and is the only lizard to possess a forked tongue.