| Coin | Silver Five Ounces 2023 Desert Scorpion |
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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 2023 Desert Scorpion five-ounce silver bullion coin is the third design in the Australia's Most Dangerous series by the Royal Australian Mint.
Desert scorpions (Urodacus yaschenkoi, also known as the inland robust scorpion) are found in a variety of locations in central Australia. They are one of the largest scorpions in Australia with males growing in excess of 100mm from mouth to tip of sting. The females are generally a bit shorter in length, although more robust in the body. Desert scorpions have prominent pedipalps (pincers) which they use to secure food. Their long tail culminates in a stinger (telson) that contains a venom gland that the scorpion uses to inject into their prey. Females give birth to live young, which she carries on her back for the first few days until they are strong enough to become independent. Scorpions can live up to 25 years. |
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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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022 · AUSTRALIA 2023 · 5 DOLLARS ·.
The legend is interrupted by the "memorial" inclusion of the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin depicts a Desert Scorpion walking in the Australian desert under the rays of the rising sun.
On two lines to the left: DESERT SCORPION. Below the scorpion, the precious metal content 5 oz .999 SILVER (five ounces of 99.9% silver).
The designer's logo, a stylised A over B (for Aaron Baggio) is below right. The face value and denomination are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
DESERT SCORPION 5 oz .999 SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (in troy oz): 5.000
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated.
Packaging: in coin capsule.
RAM Product Code: 11180.
Release date: 3 July 2023.
The coins were issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as his effigy was not expected to be approved for use in Australia until late in the year, they feature a "memorial" obverse with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the dates of her reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Australia's Most Dangerous series include (ordered by design / metal / size):
- 1 oz Gold, Redback Spider, 2020
- 5 oz Silver, Redback Spider, 2021
- 1 oz Silver ($1), Redback Spider, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Proof ($5), Redback Spider, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Great White Shark, 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Great White Shark, 2022
- 1 oz Silver ($1), Great White Shark, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Coloured ($5), Great White Shark, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, Desert Scorpion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver, Desert Scorpion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver ($1), Desert Scorpion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Coloured ($5), Desert Scorpion, 2023
- 1 oz Gold, Australian Box Jellyfish, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Australian Box Jellyfish, 2023
- 1 oz Gold, Tiger Snake, 2024
- 1 oz Silver, Tiger Snake, 2024
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