| Coin | Silver Ounce 1991 Australian Kookaburra, Proof |
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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.
The Australian Silver Kookaburra series - to which this coin belongs - was introduced in 1990 by the Perth Mint; subsequently, the Royal Australian Mint also started issuing silver Kookaburra bullion coins. The coins have legal tender status in Australia and are one of very few legal tender bullion silver coins to change their design every year, always featuring a kookaburra - a bird native to Australia. This and their limited annual mintage may, unlike for many other bullion coins, raise their numismatic value over the value of silver used.
This coin is the proof issue for 1991 in the Australian Kookaburra coin series; its design differs from that of the bullion coin for the year. The bullion coin for 1992 has the same design. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage |
8,213
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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 used to wear 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).
Around, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · 5 DOLLARS ·.
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| Reverse | |
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Within a beaded border, the reverse design of the coin shows a kookaburra bird perched on a tree branch, its head raised for its famous laugh.
Around left, the inscription THE AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA. Around right, the precious metal content: 1 OZ. 999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver).
Below, the date of issue · 1991 ·; above the date is a small P, the mint mark of the Perth Mint. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THE AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA 1 OZ. 999 SILVER · 1991 · |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Dimensions are quoted as per the certificate that comes with the proof sets.
Mintage includes 6,673 individual coins (from a limit of 35,000) and 1,540 in sets.
The coin seems to be listed in Krause as KM# 138, although its design differs from the design of the other coins with the same designation. |
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| Included in Set |
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The Australian Family of Precious Metals Coins 1991 Proof Set (1 oz), mintage 116, limited to 500
3 coins: 1 oz Platinum Australian Koala, 1 oz Gold Australian Nugget, 1 oz Silver Australian Kookaburra
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The Australian Family of Precious Metals Coins 1991 Proof Set ($5), mintage 1,424, limited to 5,000
3 coins: 1/20 oz Platinum Australian Koala, 1/20 oz Gold Australian Nugget, 1 oz Silver Australian Kookaburra
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