| Coin | Gold Ounce 2022 Daintree Rainforest |
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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.
This coloured gold coin with a "domed" shape is the second release in the Beauty, Rich & Rare series, and celebrates the Daintree Rainforest which is the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. In addition to crocodiles, snakes and poisonous jellyfish, the 180-million-year-old rainforest is also home to the blue-headed, flightless cassowaries. The birds reach a body size of up to 2 meters and have very sharp claws and beaks. In the past, they have often been conspicuous for their aggressive behaviour and are therefore considered "the most dangerous birds in the world".
The Daintree Rainforest is located in the north-east of Australia in the state of Queensland and occupies only a very small part of the total area of Australia - yet it is home to about 30 percent of all mammal species, 65 percent of all butterfly and bat species and 20 percent of the bird species in the whole of Australia. |
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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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 J.C (for Jody Clark).
The inscription containing the monarch's legend runs continuously around the rim.
The inscription also includes the precious metal content: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA · ONE OUNCE .9999 GOLD ·.
The portrait and the text are in a small circle at centre; the rest of the obverse (which is common for all coins in the range) shows a depiction of sea waves crashing above a reef, a rocky formation in the background, and two large tropical plant leaves above left. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design features a partially coloured depiction of the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. While the tree trunks arranged in a circle and the outer surroundings have been engraved, the canopy of the jungle appears centrally in bright emerald green.
Around above, the inscription DAINTREE FOREST. Around below, the date of issue and the name of the series: 2022 BEAUTY, RICH & RARE.In small letters below left, above the 0 in 2022, the initials of the designer, AS (for Aleksandra Stokic).
The face value $100 (one hundred dollars) is on the left. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
$100 DAINTREE FOREST 2022 BEAUTY, RICH & RARE |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC, coloured, domed shape.
Packaging: in deluxe timber box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
RAM Product Code: 11099
Date of issue: 3 November 2022
Issue price: AU$ $3,750.00 |
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