Silver Ounce 2024 Australia's Most Dangerous - Tiger Snake, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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 Tiger Snake is the fifth design in the Australia's Most Dangerous by the Royal Australian Mint.

The Tiger Snake inhabits much of southern Australia and is known for its striking black and yellow bands, however some Tiger Snakes are without these bold markings. The dark bands allow the snakes to better absorb heat during the short growing season. If threatened, Tiger Snakes can become aggressive, and their bite releases toxic venom, which can be fatal to humans.

Impressively, Tiger Snakes can swim and climb. They can remain submerged underwater for up to nine minutes and have also been found up to 10 metres above ground. They frequently inhabit watery areas including dams, creeks, swamps and wetlands.

Tiger Snakes hunt during the day and feed on different animals including birds, mammals, fish, frogs, tadpoles and carrion. After mating, a female Tiger Snake produces a sac containing up to 64 young. Once the young have broken free of the sac, the baby snakes are entirely independent.