Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Australian Wombat |
---|
|
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 Australian Wombat 2023 1oz Silver Coin is part of a large coin range by the Perth Mint featuring Australian animals.
The mint says about it: Did you know a group of wombats is known as a "wisdom"? Perfectly built for tunnelling with powerful limbs and claws as well as rodent-like front teeth, these iconic Australian marsupials are the largest burrowing mammals in the world. |
Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage | unknown |
|
Obverse | |
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown and the Victoria Coronation necklace worn for her Coronation. This is her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide and "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, in "uncouped" version - showing the Queen's shoulders and not terminating at the neck as the normal version.
On the left, in small letters on the Queen's shoulder, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022 · AUSTRALIA · 1 DOLLAR ·.
The legend is interrupted by the "memorial" inclusion of the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022. |
|
|
Reverse | |
The coin’s reverse portrays an image of a wombat dozing amid flowering billy buttons with a blue fairywren bird perched on its back.
On the left, the Perth Mint's mint mark P. On a flower on the right, the designer's initials JM, for Jennifer McKenna.
Around above right, the inscription WOMBAT Around below, the date of issue and the precious metal content: 2023 1oz 9999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver). |
|
Reverse Inscription |
WOMBAT 2023 1oz 9999 SILVER |
---|
|
Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 1.000 Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated. Packaging: in a protective acrylic capsule. Perth Mint SKU: 23N12AAX Date of issue: 3 April 2023. Issue price: AU$ 45.88
For additional peace of mind, the coin incorporates an authentication feature 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.
The coins were issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as his effigy was not expected to be approved for use in Australia until late in the year, they feature a "memorial" obverse with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the dates of her reign, 1952 - 2022. |
---|
|