| Coin | Silver Half Ounce 2018 Always Together - Penguins |
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The Tuvaluan Dollar is the currency of Tuvalu - a small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu has never had banknotes of its own, and has been issuing coins since 1976; these circulate together with coins of the Australian Dollar, which is also legal tender in the country, and to which the Tuvaluan Dollar is pegged.
The Australian Perth Mint issues a large variety of non-circulating legal tender coins under the authority of Tuvalu. Some of these are in the half ounce silver format (abbreviated as 1/2 oz). Strictly speaking, they are not bullion as they are priced at a premium and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic merit and collectable value and not just for their precious metal content.
This coin is part of the Always Together gift range by the Perth Mint which has a different design every year, and features two penguins.
The Mint says about it:
A beautiful romantic gift or collectable, this vividly coloured coin depicts a penguin couple standing amid snow with their heads resting against one another. Most penguin species mate for life and, as a sign of their bond, can recognise their partner’s call, even amid groups of a thousand or more birds. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage |
7,500
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1/2 oz 9999 Ag 2018 TUVALU 50 CENTS.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1/2 oz 9999 Ag" means "one half of a troy ounce of 99.99% silver" ("Ag" is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver). |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin’s reverse is coloured and depicts a penguin couple standing amid snow with their heads resting against one another.
The design also includes the inscription ALWAYS TOGETHER around above, and the Perth Mint’s P mint mark below right.
The designer's initials LB (for Lucas Bowers) are below left. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
ALWAYS TOGETHER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 0.500
Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in a classic black display case with a clear lid with illustrated shipper, and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint Item ID: 18B50AAA
Issue price: AU$ 65.00 |
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| See also |
Coins in the Forever Love / Always Together / One Love series include:
- 1/2 oz Silver Coloured, Forever Love - Doves, Cook Islands 2011
- 1/2 oz Silver Coloured, Forever Love - Koalas, Tuvalu 2012
- 1/2 oz Silver Coloured, Forever Love - Dolphins, Tuvalu 2013
- 1/2 oz Silver Coloured, Forever Love - Cockatoos, Tuvalu 2014
- $1 AlBr, Forever Love - Cockatoos, Tuvalu 2014
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Always Together - Kittens, Tuvalu 2015
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Always Together - Puppies, Tuvalu 2016
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Always Together - Horses, Tuvalu 2017
- 1/2 oz Silver Coloured, Always Together - Penguins, Tuvalu 2018
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, One Love - Doves, Australia 2020
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof Coloured, Always Together - Otters, Tuvalu 2020
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, One Love - Doves, Australia 2021
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, One Love - Doves, Australia 2022
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, One Love - Doves, Australia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, One Love - Doves, Australia 2024
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