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 2022 Desert Scorpion one-ounce gold bullion coin is the third design in the Australia's Most Dangerous series by the Royal Australian Mint.
Desert scorpions (Urodacus yaschenkoi, also known as the inland robust scorpion) are found in a variety of locations in central Australia. They are one of the largest scorpions in Australia with males growing in excess of 100mm from mouth to tip of sting. The females are generally a bit shorter in length, although more robust in the body. Desert scorpions have prominent pedipalps (pincers) which they use to secure food. Their long tail culminates in a stinger (telson) that contains a venom gland that the scorpion uses to inject into their prey. Females give birth to live young, which she carries on her back for the first few days until they are strong enough to become independent. Scorpions can live up to 25 years. |