| Coin | Gold Tenth-Ounce 2022 Australian Dinosaurs |
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The Australian tenth-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1/10 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 Mint says about this coin:
Since the discovery of Australia’s first dinosaur fossil in Victoria in 1903, dinosaur fossils have been found all over Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The Royal Australian Mint celebrates Australia’s ‘terrible lizards’ with this 2022 $10 ‘C’ Mintmark Gold Proof Coin. Featuring the fast, lightweight predator Australovenator wintonensis on the precious metal gold coin and the large-bodied ornithopod Muttaburrasaurus langdoni on the packaging, this release showcases Australia’s impressive prehistoric creatures. |
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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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left.
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2022.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows in the upper half four Australovenator wintonensis dinosaurs running to left. Below, the fossilised skeleton of a member of the species, above which the face value 10 DOLLARS.
The designer's initials AWB (for Adam William Ball) are on the left.
Around above, the inscription AUSTRALOVENATOR. Around below, DINOSAURS DOWNUNDER. Above that, a small letter C (from Canberra) represents a mint mark of the Royal Australian Mint which it uses on collector issues only. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
10 DOLLARS AUSTRALOVENATOR DINOSAURS DOWNUNDER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Packaging: in presentation box with illustrated shipper.
RAM Product Code: 10750
Issue price: AU$ 360.00 |
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