Domed coin features Planet Earth
In recent years, The Royal Australian Mint has produced a number of stunning domed silver $5 coins. Of particular note were two series celebrating the northern and southern night skies….
In recent years, The Royal Australian Mint has produced a number of stunning domed silver $5 coins. Of particular note were two series celebrating the northern and southern night skies. One of these coins took this year’s COTY Best Silver Coin award.
The mint has now turned its attention to “The Blue Marble,” a.k.a. “Third Rock From The Sun” and “Sol III,” better known as Planet Earth.
The reverse of the new 39.62 mm, 1 oz, .999 fine silver colored proof $5 shows a quadrant of the Earth’s surface centered on Indonesia. The vast Asian landmass sprawls to the north with the Australian continent below. White cloud belts swirl above blue waters in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
The atmospheric layers of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere are defined within the enclosing silver rim, with the International Space Station orbiting at lower left.
Two further coins are planned for this series, described as “Earth & Beyond.” The “Beyond” bit is most evident on the new coin’s obverse, where the planets of the Solar System are depicted schematically rotating about the coin’s center – which just happens to bear Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth.
The reverse designer is Aaron Baggio.
Mintage is 5,000 with the mint’s retail shop selling solely on the domestic market.
International sales are available through www.emk.com.
This article was originally printed in World Coin News. >> Subscribe today.
More Collecting Resources
• Check out the newly-updated Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date that provides accurate identification, listing and pricing information for the latest coin releases.
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