The Australian five ounces silver piece (abbreviated as 5 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion and commemorative 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 Australian Swan 2018 5oz Silver Proof High Relief Coin is part of the Perth Mint's Australian Swan series which features a new reverse design every year.
The Mint says about it: The elegant Australian Silver Swan is now available as a 5oz high relief masterpiece. The coin’s reverse depicts the majestic and unique animal emblem of Western Australia swimming gracefully on the surface of the water with a cygnet beside her. To press this special release, which features an appreciably raised relief for stunning clarity, an extra thick blank and deeply engraved dies were especially created by The Perth Mint’s craftspeople. |