The Australian two kilos silver piece (abbreviated as 2 kg and designated with Ag for "silver") is a very large bullion 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 mint says about the coin: This spectacular 2 kilo silver coin struck in high relief with an antiqued finish pays homage to one of Earth’s most remarkable insects, the Honey Bee.
Bees have provided humans with honey for millennia. The ancient Egyptians attached great religious and spiritual significance to bees, while many civilisations honoured them in art, jewellery, sculpture, and like the Greeks, on early coins. English poet Geoffrey Chaucer admired their seemingly endless industry and energy, originating the phrase "busy as bees". But their role as effective crop pollinators outweighs every other aspect their benevolence. Through this vital biological service, they remain essential to people and the planet.
Each coin in the mintage is individually edge numbered from 1 to 200. |