Silver Half Ounce 2021 The Shark in the Stars, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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 is the third and final issue in the Royal Australian Mint series called Star Dreaming which tells indigenous astronomical stories and provides insight in the wisdom of ancient cultures. The coin is dedicated to the stellar constellation known as The Shark in the Stars, or Beizam the Shark.

The reverse shows a colourful representation of the Beizam, which consists of seven stars in the constellation of the Big Dipper and the Big Bear (Ursa Major), in the night sky. The artwork is by Torres Strait Dauareb elder Segar Passi. The Torres Strait Islanders are the indigenous people of the islands of the same name off Queensland, Australia. A Melanesian seafaring people, they are the custodians of a land that spans more than 250 islands, 14 of which are inhabited. Their culture is estimated to date back 8,000 years. By means of observing the Shark in the Stars, it is possible for them to determine when it is a good time to plant crops, or when seasonal storms occur.