| Coin | Silver Quarter Ounce 1989 The Dump - The Wandjina |
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The Australian quarter ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1/4 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion and commemorative coin format; it has face value of 25 cents. 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.
This coin is part of the second "Holey Dollar" and "Dump" set issued by the Perth Mint.
The set contains two coins: a large (one ounce) coin with the shape of a ring, and a small "dump" which fits within the whole of the large coin. They are styled after the Holey Dollar and the dump, which were a form of emergency money in the colony of New South Wales. In 1813, in order to overcome a shortage of circulating coinage, the colonial government authorised the cutting out of a small piece (the dump) from a quantity of Spanish 8 Reales coins ("Spanish dollar), with the resulting two pieces being over-stamped as five shillings on the ring, and fifteen pence on the dump.
The 1989 set portrays freshwater crocodiles and the Wandjina. Alternatively written as Wanjina and Wondjina, and also known as Gulingi, the Wandjina are cloud and rain spirits from Australian Aboriginal mythology that are depicted prominently in rock art in Australia. Some of the artwork in the Kimberley region of Western Australia dates back to approximately 4,000 years ago. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
45,000
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.
Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
Around, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · 25 CENTS ·.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse depicts The Wandjina of Aboriginal legend. The design is based on a bark painting by Mickey Bunguni, and features a male Wandjina spirit named Ilyaru. Lines radiating from the head signify rain-bearing clouds, and the dots signify lightning. Marks across the spirit's chest and stomach represent the tracks of a "Dreaming turtle".
Around above, the inscription · THE DUMP ·; around below, the date of issue · 1989 ·.
On the left and right, the precious metal content: QUARTER OZ 999 SILVER (one quarter of a troy ounce of 99.9% silver). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
· THE DUMP · QUARTER OZ 999 SILVER · 1989 · |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| See also |
Coins in the Holey Dollar and The Dump range include:
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Rainbow Serpent, 1988
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - Wawalag Sisters, 1988
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Freshwater Crocodiles, 1989
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - The Wandjina, 1989
- 1 oz Silver, The Holey Dollar - Men Fishing Barramundi, 1990
- 1/4 oz Silver, The Dump - Mimi Spirits, 1990
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