Silver Five Ounces 2018 Rare Earth, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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 Mint says about this coin:
"With original artistry inspired by ancient forces that gave us brilliant treasures, the Rare Earth coin has been crafted from 5oz of pure silver and a 0.035 carat natural golden diamond.

Aged at 1.6 billion years, each handset jewel from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia’s spectacular Kimberley region represents the epicentre of a supernova, a stellar explosion like those that forged silver when our planet was formed. The coin’s high relief reverse symbolises the creation of precious metals during an intense cosmic explosion. These elements were present when gravity slowly compressed the resulting dust and debris into new stars and planets, including Earth.

This coin has been individually ‘antiqued’ to give it a unique finish conveying the surface abrasions of an ancient artefact. As a result of this treatment, the appearance of each coin may vary. The design also includes representations of ancient lava flows and magma pipes which brought diamonds, formed under intense pressure and heat at great depth, to the Earth’s surface. Thanks to a specialised surface treatment, the coin’s subtle and varying patina exhibits intriguing traces of elemental colour."