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.
The 2020 Beneath the Southern Skies one-ounce silver bullion coin pays homage to Stuart Devlin, who designed many of Australia’s circulating coins, as well as coins for other countries; his definitive designs for Australian decimal coinage were created in 1966 and are still used today. One of Devlin’s early drafts featuring the Australian continent alongside the iconic Southern Cross has been retrieved from the Royal Australian Mint’s archives and re-imagined for this new series.
Unseen in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Cross constellation has guided travellers and explorers, inspired poets and musicians. It has been a symbol of loyalty and rebellion and remains one of the most meaningful and recognisable features in the southern skies.
The coins are issued in Brilliant Uncirculated grade and are packaged in individual capsules. |