COIN REVEAL: The Australian 2001 Silver Millennium Coin
Today's coin reveal post features The Australian 2001 Silver Millennium Coin which is 1oz .999 Silver struck by the Perth Mint.
1. Coin Story
This coin was minted to commemorate the year 2001, which is actually the start of the third millennium. I was a bit confused by the coin design chosen by the Perth Mint, but then I read the accompanying Certificate of Authenticity and it made a bit more sense.
Featured in the design are the following:
- Ancient Egyptians - they were one of the earliest people to accurately measure the solar year, nearly 7000 years ago.
- Cleopatra's Needle - it is symbolic of the precision with which the Egyptians built and aligned their monuments.
- Coloured Satellite Image of Earth - with a gold insert of the sun, with stylised rays aligned with the Morning Star and shining on Cleopatra's needle.
- Winged Sun Disc Designs - around the border symbolise the union of upper and lower Egypt. They incorporate the cobra and vulture goddesses, with the sun disc of the God Re.
You see, extremely confusing design right... Those descriptions above have been take directly from the COA, because there was no way I could describe this design in my own words without the assistance of the COA.
2. Coin Packaging
These coins are packaged in individual sealed plastic capsules. The coin comes in a grey metallic clam shell case with the Perth Mint logo on the front. Inside the case, the coin is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
3. Coin Details
a. Mintage
The mintage of this coin was 30,000 coins. Each of the coins was issued as legal tender under the authority of the Australian Government. The denomination of the coin is $1 (Australian).
b. Purity
The purity of each of the coin is .999 fine silver.
c. Details
| Mint/Brand: | The Perth Mint |
|---|---|
| Silver Content: | 1 Troy Ounce |
| Purity: | .999 Fine Silver |
| Denomination: | 1 DOLLAR (Australian) |
| Year of Issue: | 2001 |
| Edge: | Milled |
| Mintage: | 30,000 |
| Diameter: | 40.6mm |
| Thickness: | 3mm |
4. Coin Design
a. Reverse Design
The reverse of the coin has a detailed design which I have described above from the certificate of authenticity. It features a coloured Earth, a gold insert Sun, Cleopatra's Needle and ancient Egyptian people and god's.
The design includes an inscription 'AUSTRALIA 2001', the coin weight '1oz' and the coin purity '999 SILVER'.
a. Obverse Design
The obverse of the coin portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The design also includes the inscriptions 'ELIZABETH II', country of origin 'AUSTRALIA' and the denomination '1 DOLLAR' (Australian).
Post authored by @strenue
