| Coin | Silver Ounce 2020 Quokka |
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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 a long running series of bullion coins issued by the Perth Mint depicting native animals, and features the Australian Quokka.
A quokka is a small type of wallaby found mainly in the south west region of Western Australia, particularly Rottnest Island, an idyllic location 18 kilometres off the Perth coast. Thanks to its cute, smiley appearance, the quokka is known as the "world’s happiest animal". Willing to interact with human beings, it has become a hugely popular subject for "selfies" among thousands of annual visitors to the holiday hotspot. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage | unknown |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1oz 9999 Ag 2020 1 DOLLAR.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1 oz 9999 Ag" means "one ounce of 99.99% silver" - Ag is abbreviated from the Latin word for silver, Argentum. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin portrays a quokka on a beach with a lighthouse in the background. Standing on its hind legs, the herbivorous marsupial is eating its preferred diet of leaves.
Around above, the inscription QUOKKA. The Perth Mint’s P mint mark is on the right. The designer's initials IJ (for Ing Ing Jong) are in the ground on the left. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
QUOKKA |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver Content (Troy oz): 1.000
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
Perth Mint Item ID: 20H49AAX
Half of the mintage limit of 30,000 was for the Australian market, and half was distributed overseas.
This coin includes an authentication feature on the reverse in the form of a micro-laser engraved letter. Detectable under a magnifying glass, it is designed to make it significantly more difficult for the coin to be counterfeited. |
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