2013 Australian Opal Series – The Kangaroo 1oz Silver Proof Coin
Australia’s most famous ambassador and number one symbol of the "Land Down under" is the kangaroo. From coins, to bank notes and even to the Australian Coat of Arms the kangaroo is there.
Depicted here in this marvelous 3rd series of Australian Opal silver coins. It brings together so many elements that are intrinsically Australian, especially with mosaic inlay of the kangaroo being made from authentic Australian opal. Surrounding the kangaroo in the border are depictions of Sturt’s Desert Pea, the Southern Cross constellation and a first crescent moon.
The series has been much applauded for its ingenuity and artistic elements. Like so many coins from Perth Mint they really are world leaders in the development of new coin design and proof quality strikes.
Together with the first 2 coins of the series they make a fantastic set and will be a great investment down the road.
The coin comes with original packaging, prestige case and Certificate of Authenticity. Certificate number may vary from that displayed.
The coin’s reverse also incorporates The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mint mark. Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin’s obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 2013 year-date.
Design
Coin Specifications:
Silver Content (Troy oz) 1.0
Monetary Denomination (AUD) $1
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm) 36.60
Maximum Thickness (mm) 4.50
Maximum Mintage 8,000
Designer Aleysha Howarth
History
The kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning ‘large foot’). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, red kangaroo, antilopine kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo and western grey kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to Australia. The smaller macropods are found in Australia and New Guinea.
Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. Like most marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch called a marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development.
Larger kangaroos have adapted much better to changes brought to the Australian landscape by humans and though many of their smaller cousins are endangered, they are plentiful. They are not farmed to any extent, but wild kangaroos are shot for meat, leather hides, and to protect grazing land for sheep and cattle. Although there is some controversy, harvesting kangaroo meat has many environmental and health benefits over traditional meats.
The kangaroo is an unofficial symbol of Australia and appears as an emblem on the Australian coat of arms and on some of its currency and is used by some of Australia’s well known organisations, including Qantas and the Royal Australian Air Force. The kangaroo is important to both Australian culture and the national image, and consequently there are numerous popular culture references.
Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opal. 90% is called ‘light opal’ or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% of the opal productions but cannot be found in all of the opal fields. Crystal opal or pure hydrated silica makes up 30% of the opal produced, 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal.
The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. The world’s largest and most valuable gem opal “Olympic Australis” was found in August 1956 at the “Eight Mile” opal field in Coober Pedy. It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams) and is 11 inches (280 mm) long, with a height of 4 3⁄4 inches (120 mm) and a width of 4 1⁄2 inches (110 mm).
Boulder Opal from Carisbrooke Station near Winton, Queensland
The Mintabie Opal Field located approximately 250 km north west of Coober Pedy has also produced large quantities of crystal opal and also the rarer black opal. Over the years it has been sold overseas incorrectly as Coober Pedy Opal. The black opal is said to be some of the best examples found in Australia.
Andamooka in South Australia is also a major producer of matrix opal, crystal opal, and black opal. Another Australian town, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal, opal containing a predominantly dark background (dark-gray to blue-black displaying the play of color). Boulder opal consists of concretions and fracture fillings in a dark siliceous ironstone matrix. It is found sporadically in western Queensland, from Kynuna in the north, to Yowah and Koroit in the south. Its largest quantities are found around Jundah and Quilpie (known as the “home of the Boulder Opal”) in South West Queensland. Australia also has opalised fossil remains, including dinosaur bones in New South Wales, and marine creatures in South Australia. The rarest type of Australian opal is “pipe” opal, closely related to boulder opal, which forms in sandstone with some iron-oxide content, usually as fossilized tree roots.
*All historical information taken from Wikipedia for educational purposes only