| Coin | Gold Ounce 2023 Mythical Creatures - Basilisk |
|---|
|
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 coin is part of a series by the Perth Mint featuring Mythical Creatures and portrays a Basilisk.
The mint says about it:
In mythology, the basilisk is a terrifying beast first described by the ancient Romans. According to their texts, it could kill almost all living forms with its deadly venom, noxious breath, or even its lethal gaze. Later, medieval legends emerged suggesting the unnatural creature with a reptilian body, dragon’s wings, and the head and claws of a rooster, was hatched by a toad from a defiled cockerel’s egg. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Mintage Limit |
(150 )
|
|
| Obverse | |
|---|
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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 1952 - 2022 · AUSTRALIA 2023 · 1oz 9999 Au 100 DOLLARS.
The legend is interrupted by the "memorial" inclusion of the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1 oz 9999 Au" means "one troy ounce of 99.99% gold" - Au is abbreviated from the Latin word for gold, Aurum. |
|
|
| Reverse | |
|---|
The reverse of the coin portrays a basilisk in flight, approaching its mountain cave.
Around above, the inscription MYTHICAL CREATURES BASILISK.
The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is on the right. The designer's initials NM (for Natasha Muhl) are at the base of the rock below left.
The face value and the precious metal content are on the obverse. |
|
| Reverse Inscription |
MYTHICAL CREATURES BASILISK |
|---|
|
| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
| Notes | Gold content (Troy oz): 1.000
Finish: proof.
Packaging: accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity, the coin is housed in a classic display case with a timber lid, and an illustrated shipper.
Perth Mint SKU: 23L04AAA.
Release date: 3 October 2023.
Release price: AU$ 4,400.00.
The coins were issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as his effigy was not expected to be approved for use in Australia until late in the year, they feature a "memorial" obverse with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the dates of her reign, 1952 - 2022. |
|---|
|
| See also |
Coins in the Perth Mint's Mythical Creatures series include:
- 1 oz Platinum, Mythical Creatures - Unicorn, 2021
- 5 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Unicorn, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Unicorn, 2021
- 1 oz Platinum, Mythical Creatures - Griffin, 2022
- 5 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Griffin, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Griffin, 2022
- 1 oz Platinum, Mythical Creatures - Basilisk, 2023
- 5 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Basilisk, 2023
- 1 oz Gold, Mythical Creatures - Basilisk, 2023
|
|---|
|
Search for Australia: Gold Ounce 2023 Mythical Creatures - Basilisk on eBay 