One Dollar 2021 U - Ulysses Butterfly, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The one dollar coin denomination (written as $1) was introduced in Australia in 1984, replacing the earlier banknotes. The original definitive type featuring five kangaroos has not been changed since its introduction and is still issued regularly.

Apart from the regular design, the Royal Australian Mint issues a large variety of circulating commemorative one dollar coins which have the same specifications and circulate in parallel with the definitive type - such as this one.

This circulating commemorative dollar coin is part of the The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 2 campaign - a series of 26 different $1 coins where each features a letter of the English alphabet and an Australian symbol starting with that letter. The coin for the letter U features the Ulysses Butterfly.

U is for Ulysses Butterfly - a prized insect with iridescent blue wings framed by black. Specific to Queensland (and tropical countries nearby), the Ulysses Butterfly is often used as a symbol of tourism for the state. Also known as the Mountain Blue Butterfly, its scientific name is Papilio ulysses and it boasts a wingspan of up to 130 millimetres. Unfortunately, life as a beautiful Ulysses Butterfly is short, with the delicate creature only flitting around for several weeks.