Silver Ounce and a Half 2022 Blue Whale, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Australia is one of the large issuers of bullion coins. Uniquely, there are two independent mints in the country 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. Their issues are normally in standard sizes (mostly based on the troy ounce), but sometimes they also issue coins in non-standard formats, such as this one.

Australias claim to part of Antarctica dates back to 1933. Since then, the region has become home to key research facilities like Casey, Davis, and Mawson Stations. These outposts allow scientists to explore many environmental topics, including studies on creatures like the Blue Whale. Blue Whales are the biggest animals known to science, growing as long as 30 metres and weighing around 200 tons. Their hearts are massive, and their arteries are wide enough to allow small children to swim through. Although these mammals are gigantic, their diet is made up of tiny krill. They filter their food using baleen plates and communicate with one another across great ocean distances through low-frequency sounds that travel far underwater.

The coin is part of a Perth Mint range distributed exclusively in the United States.