2022 $1 Great Southern Land 1oz Silver Proof Lepidolite Coin

2022 $1 Great Southern Land 1oz Silver Proof Lepidolite Coin

This beautiful coin features the great southern Australian continent in stunning Australian blue lepidolite.

Since antiquity, European philosophers speculated that a large continent existed in the Southern Hemisphere to 'balance' those of the north.

Terra Australis was the Latin term they coined to describe the posited great south land which different navigators explored in parts until Royal Navy cartographer Matthew Flinders completed the first circumnavigation of the island-continent now known as Australia in 1803.Europeans were astonished by the exotic wildlife they encountered. Familiar to First Nations people for at least 60,000 years, they included the isolated continent's famous pouched marsupials and an extraordinary diversity of fascinating birds and insects. Today, Australia supports about 850 bird species, of which roughly 45% are found nowhere else on Earth, while it is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of insects - with many still waiting to be formally identified.

Struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz 99.9% pure silver to proof quality, this coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

No more than 5,000 of these 2022 Great Southern Land 1oz Silver Proof Lepidolite Coins will be released by The Perth Mint.

The coin's reverse features a blue lepidolite insert in the shape of the Australian continent. it is encircled with representations of an Australian wedge-tailed eagle; a kookaburra; a splendid fairy wren; a blue banded bee; a birdwing butterfly; a sugar glider; a sulphur crested cockatoo; and a willie wagtail.

The Perth Mint's 'P' mintmark is included in the design together with the 2022 year-date, and the coin's weight and fineness.

The coin's obverse depicts the Jody Clark effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.

Each coin is housed in a classic display case with a clear lid.

Packaged with an illustrated shipper, each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Denomination :                $1

Quality :                          Proof

Metal :                             99.9% Pure Silver

Weight :                           31.107 gms

Diameter :                        36.60 mm

Mintage :                          5,000

Certificate of Authenticity : Perth Mint’s Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

NOTE : The lepidolite insert colour will vary.