The Australian ten ounces gold piece (abbreviated as 10 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 Jewelled Turtle 2024 10oz Gold Proof Coin by the Perth Mint is part of a series of the Masterpieces jewelled collector coins which was in earlier editions dedicated to Chinese culture.
The mint says about it:
The Perth Mint's most luxurious annual releases, coins of The Jewelled Series, owe their artistic inspiration to significant animals in mythology and across cultures. Like its stunning predecessors, The Jewelled Turtle is mounted with a three-dimensional 18-carat gold representation of a sea turtle. Its carapace is hand set with 112 exceptionally rare Argyle Pink Diamonds, while its head and limbs are set with 52 natural white diamonds and two emeralds for eyes. A further five white diamonds are set in a ribbon-shaped line symbolising the sea surface, with an Argyle Pink Diamond at the heart of a stylised sun.
Designed by highly experienced coin artist Natasha Muhl, the magnificent piece includes imagery representing corals and reef fish. Natasha, whose previous work for the series includes The 2020 Jewelled Tiger, feels a personal connection with sea turtles.
“I was raised in the Kimberley, an extraordinary natural environment offering pristine white beaches and a translucent turquoise sea,” she said. “Six of the world's seven species of sea turtles are found in Kimberley waters, and five of those are known to nest there. They really are special animals to me.”
Stories about sea turtles have been told throughout human existence. Integral to the cultures of many coastal communities from Australia to Asia, Africa and the Americas, they are revered in mythology and folklore as symbols of longevity, wisdom, patience, endurance, protection and healing. For some, the sea turtle is considered to be the sacred creator of Mother Earth. | 
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