The Australian half ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1/2 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.
This coin is the third issue in the Perth Mint's Dreaming Down Under series of coloured coins and features a baby dingo.
The Mint says about it: Dingos are wild dogs that have lived in Australia for thousands of years. Beautifully coloured, the dingo artistry on this coin captures the puppy’s vulnerability to perfection. The coin depicts the cute canine asleep in a fleece-lined twig basket - a prop that has created a popular trend in newborn photography among parents all around the world. |