| Coin | Silver Ounce 2012 Discover Australia - Whale Shark |
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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 one-ounce silver coin is part of the 2012 Discover Australia Silver Series by the Perth Mint and features a Whale Shark.
Each of the five coin in the series depicts artistry inspired by the beautiful Australian landscape and its wildlife. The Whale Shark is the world’s biggest fish, yet despite its formidable size is considered harmless. Found in coastal waters and the lagoons of coral atolls and reefs, the upper body of the Whale Shark is blue-grey to brown in colour, with light spots. Boasting some 3,000 tiny teeth, the Whale Shark is a filter feeder, sieving food through its gills. This majestic creature was not discovered until 1828, although the species is actually millions of years old. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage | unknown |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin 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 face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · 1 DOLLAR ·.
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| Reverse | |
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The coin's reverse is coloured and depicts a Whale Shark swimming through the colourful Ningaloo Reef.
On three lines above, the inscription DISCOVER AUSTRALIA 2012. In the exergue, WHALE SHARK.
Around below, the precious metal content: 1oz 999 SILVER (one ounce of 99.9% silver). Above that, the P mint mark of the Perth Mint. The designer's initials TV (for Tom Vaughan) are on the shark's pelvic fin. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
DISCOVER AUSTRALIA 2012 WHALE SHARK 1oz 999 SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | This coin was issued individually boxed, or in a set with other members of the series.
Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging (individual coin): presentation box with a timber lid and stylised shipper, with numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint Item ID: 1218DEAA
Issue price: AU$ 99.00, US$ 70.25 |
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| Included in Set |
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Discover Australia 2012 Silver Five-Coin Set, mintage unknown
5 coins: 1oz Silver, Red Kangaroo, 1oz Silver, Whale Shark, 1oz Silver, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 1oz Silver, Goanna, 1oz Silver, Kookaburra
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| See also |
Coins issued in the Discover Australia 2012 series include:
- 1/10oz Platinum, Red Kangaroo, 2012
- 1/2oz Gold, Red Kangaroo, 2012
- 1/10oz Gold, Red Kangaroo, 2012
- 1/25oz Gold, Red Kangaroo, 2012
- 1oz Silver, Red Kangaroo, 2012
- 1/10oz Platinum, Whale Shark, 2012
- 1/2oz Gold, Whale Shark, 2012
- 1/10oz Gold, Whale Shark, 2012
- 1/25oz Gold, Whale Shark, 2012
- 1oz Silver, Whale Shark, 2012
- 1/10oz Platinum, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 2012
- 1/2oz Gold, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 2012
- 1/10oz Gold, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 2012
- 1/25oz Gold, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 2012
- 1oz Silver, Green and Gold Bell Frog, 2012
- 1/10oz Platinum, Goanna, 2012
- 1/2oz Gold, Goanna, 2012
- 1/10oz Gold, Goanna, 2012
- 1/25oz Gold, Goanna, 2012
- 1oz Silver, Goanna, 2012
- 1/10oz Platinum, Kookaburra, 2012
- 1/2oz Gold, Kookaburra, 2012
- 1/10oz Gold, Kookaburra, 2012
- 1/25oz Gold, Kookaburra, 2012
- 1oz Silver, Kookaburra, 2012
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