| Coin | Silver Ounce 2020 Spinner Dolphin, High Relief |
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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.
The 2020 Spinner Dolphin one-ounce silver bullion coin is the second dolphin-themed coin by the Royal Australian Mint after the Bottlenose Dolphin issue of 2019. This is a special version of the silver ounce, with high-relief surfaces; it has face value of $5 to distinguish it from the other one-ounce coins. Given that it has the same mass but bigger thickness, the diameter of the coin is smaller.
The spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is a small dolphin found in off-shore tropical waters around the world. It is famous for its acrobatic displays in which it spins along its longitudinal axis as it leaps through the air. It is a member of the family Delphinidae of toothed whales.
The coins are in Proof grade and were made available exclusively through APMEX, boxed and with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. |
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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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 2020 · 5 DOLLARS ·.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin depicts a spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) in its characteristic leap above the water; in the background - the Sun rising over the ocean horizon.
Around above left, the inscription SPINNER DOLPHIN. Around below right, the precious metal content 1 oz .999 FINE SILVER (one ounce of 99.9% silver).
The face value and denomination are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
SPINNER DOLPHIN 1 oz .999 FINE SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| See also |
Coins in the Australian Dolphin Series include:
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Bottlenose Dolphin, 2019
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Bottlenose Dolphin, 2019
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Bottlenose Dolphin, 2019
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Spinner Dolphin, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Spinner Dolphin, 2020
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Spinner Dolphin, 2020
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Fraser's Dolphin, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Fraser's Dolphin, 2021
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Fraser's Dolphin, 2021
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Dusky Dolphin, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Dusky Dolphin, 2022
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Dusky Dolphin, 2022
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Rough-Toothed Dolphin, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Rough-Toothed Dolphin, 2023
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Rough-Toothed Dolphin, 2023
- 1 oz Gold ($100), Hourglass Dolphin, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion ($1), Hourglass Dolphin, 2024
- 1 oz Silver High Relief ($5), Hourglass Dolphin, 2024
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