| Coin | Gold Ounce 2020 Australia Zoo - Sumatran Tiger |
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The Australian one-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1 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.
The 2020 Sumatran Tiger one-ounce gold bullion coin is the first release in a new Australia Zoo coin series and features a Sumatran tiger.
He belongs to the critically endangered species - the number of tigers living in the wild is estimated at fewer than 400 worldwide. The rare species is the smallest living subspecies of the tiger and has its habitat exclusively on the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). Beside his smaller body size, the Sumatran tiger also differs from other tigers by his very strong fur base colour. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2020 · 100 DOLLARS ·.
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| Reverse | |
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Within a plain rim, the reverse of the coin depicts the head of a Sumatran tiger looking sternly towards the viewer.
Around left and above, the inscription AUSTRALIA ZOO · SUMATRAN TIGER. Around right, the precious metal content: 1 oz .9999 Au (one ounce of 999.9% gold; Au is abbreviated from the Latin word for gold, Aurum). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
AUSTRALIA ZOO · SUMATRAN TIGER 1 oz .9999 Au |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| See also |
Coins in the Australia Zoo premium bullion coin series include:
- 1 oz Gold, Sumatran Tiger, 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Sumatran Tiger, 2020
- 1 oz Gold, Cheetah, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Cheetah, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, African Elephant, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Sumatran Elephant, 2022
Unlike other coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint, the gold and the silver versions of the Sumatran Tiger bullion coin have different designs. |
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