| Coin | Silver Ounce 1990 Holey Dollar - Men Fishing Barramundi |
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The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 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 part of the third "Holey Dollar" and "Dump" set issued by the Perth Mint.
The set contains two coins: a large (one ounce) coin with the shape of a ring, and a small "dump" which fits within the whole of the large coin. They are styled after the Holey Dollar and the dump, which were a form of emergency money in the colony of New South Wales. In 1813, in order to overcome a shortage of circulating coinage, the colonial government authorised the cutting out of a small piece (the dump) from a quantity of Spanish 8 Reales coins ("Spanish dollar), with the resulting two pieces being over-stamped as five shillings on the ring, and fifteen pence on the dump.
The 1990 set portrays fishing men, and Mimi spirits. Mimis (or Mimih spirits) are fairy-like beings of Arnhem Land in the folklore of the Aboriginal Australians of northern Australia. They are described as having extremely thin and elongated bodies, so thin as to be in danger of breaking in case of a high wind. To avoid this, they usually spend most of their time living in rock crevices. According to Aboriginal folklore, Mimi had human form and made the first rock paintings before the Aboriginal people first came to northern Australia. The Mimi taught the Aboriginal people how to paint, and how to hunt and cook kangaroo meat. The Mimis are considered to be mischievous but generally harmless. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
30,000
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.
Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
The effigy is very small and is in the upper of the ring.
Around the ring, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · ONE DOLLAR ·. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse depicts men hunting barramundi and garfish from a branch overhanging a billabong (small body of water); the design is based on a drawing by Dick Nguieingulei Murumuru.
Around above, the inscription · THE HOLEY DOLLAR ·; around below, the date of issue · 1990 ·.
On the left and right, the precious metal content: ONE OUNCE 999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
· THE HOLEY DOLLAR · ONE OUNCE 999 SILVER · 1990 · |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| See also |
Coins in the Holey Dollar and The Dump range include:
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Rainbow Serpent, 1988
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - Wawalag Sisters, 1988
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Freshwater Crocodiles, 1989
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - The Wandjina, 1989
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Men Fishing Barramundi, 1990
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - Mimi Spirits, 1990
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