Silver Ounce 2021 Mother of Pearl - Great Southern Land, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints independently 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 Opal series uses a technique pioneered by the Perth Mint in which the reverse design is done with opal inserts instead of being coloured.

The Great Southern Land 2021 1oz Silver Proof Mother of Pearl Coin is part of a Perth Mint series of coins inlaid with Australian opal or Mother of Pearl.

The Mint says about it:
Struck from 1oz of 99.99% pure silver in proof quality, this spectacular collectable incorporates an authentic mother of pearl insert in the shape of the "great southern land" - a popular reference to the Australian continent originally coined in ancient Europe to describe a predicted southern landmass.

Dating from ancient Aboriginal interest in pearl shell, Australia is passionate about pearls. Once famous for producing some of the world’s finest natural pearls, the tropical town of Broome continues the tradition as the centre of Australia’s cultured south sea pearl industry. Fashioned from iridescent mother of pearl, the coin’s map-shaped insert is surrounded by images of aquatic wildlife - including a great white shark, sea turtle, seahorse, blue-ringed octopus, starfish and stingray.