Coin | Silver Ounce 2009 Kangaroo, Rolf Harris (Coloured) |
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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 Kangaroo coin range was introduced in 1993 by the Royal Australian Mint; subsequently, the Perth Mint also started issuing Kangaroo bullion coins. The coins have legal tender status in Australia and are one of few legal tender bullion silver coins to change their design every year. 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 part of the Royal Australian Mint's range featuring Australia's national animal, the kangaroo.
The design was the first in a three-year mini series featuring invited external artists (not mint designers), and has a reverse based on artwork by Rolf Harris. It is a second issue of the design, in a different format and coloured, and is part of a three-coin set. |
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Obverse | |
The obverse shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2009.
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Reverse | |
Within a wide rim, the coloured reverse of the coin depicts a mother and baby kangaroo ("joey") in a hug, with trees in the background.
Around below, the face value ONE DOLLAR.
Around above in the rim, the inscription Kangaroo Series. Around below, the name of the artist: Rolf Harris.
On three lines on the left, the face value and the precious metal content: $1 1 oz. Ag .999 (one dollar, one troy ounce of 99.9% silver). On the right, a small silhouette of a kangaroo. |
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Reverse Inscription |
ONE DOLLAR Kangaroo Series Rolf Harris $1 1 oz. Ag .999 |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: proof, coloured. |
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See also |
Kangaroo coins with this design by Rolf Harris include: - 1/10 oz Gold, Kangaroo 2007 - 1 oz Silver (with gilded version), Kangaroo 2007 - $1 Copper-Nickel, Kangaroo 2007 - 1 oz Silver Coloured, Kangaroo (Rolf Harris) 2009
Royal Australian Mint coins featuring the Kangaroo issued in 2009: - 1/5 oz Gold Proof, Kangaroo at Sunset - 1/10 oz Gold Proof, Kangaroo (Ken Done design) - 1 oz Silver Bullion and Proof, Kangaroo (Ken Done design) - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Kangaroo (Rolf Harris design) - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Kangaroo (Reg Mombassa design) - 1 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Kangaroo (Ken Done design) - 1 oz Silver Proof, Kangaroo at Sunset - $1 circulating (with silver version), Mob of Roos - $1 NCLT Copper-Nickel, Kangaroo (Ken Done design)
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