Gold Half Ounce 2012 Discover Australia - Whale Shark, 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 Whale Shark.

Each of the five coin in the series depicts artistry inspired by the beautiful Australian landscape and its wildlife. The Whale Shark is the world’s biggest fish, yet despite its formidable size is considered harmless. Found in coastal waters and the lagoons of coral atolls and reefs, the upper body of the Whale Shark is blue-grey to brown in colour, with light spots. Boasting some 3,000 tiny teeth, the Whale Shark is a filter feeder, sieving food through its gills. This majestic creature was not discovered until 1828, although the species is actually millions of years old.