Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Australian Antarctic Territory Series - Emperor Penguin 2012 1oz Silver Proof Coin - Perth Mint Australia





 Features:
  • Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
  • Stunning Coloured Reverse Design
  • ‘P’ Mintmark
  • Limited Mintage - 7,500
  • Australian Legal Tender
  • Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
  • Presentation Packaging

This fabulous release features the Emperor Penguin, a species popularly depicted in the Happy Feet movies.   Don’t get left out in the cold, as previous coins in this series are no longer available!

Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver

The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

Stunning Coloured Reverse Design

The coin’s reverse depicts a coloured image of Emperor Penguins and two chicks standing on ice floes, which appear within the outline of Antarctica.  The Perth ‘P’ mintmark is included in the design.

Limited Mintage

No more than 7,500 of these coins will be issued by The Perth Mint.

Australian Legal Tender

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 monetary denomination.

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Presentation Packaging

The coin is housed in a charcoal-coloured presentation case, which comes with a stylish outer shipper.

Technical Specifications

Silver Content (Troy oz) 1
Monetary Denomination (AUD) 1
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm) 40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm) 4.00
Designer Wade Robinson

Distinguished by a bright red-orange bill and white eye patches, the Emperor Penguin is the largest of 17 penguin species, the deepest diver of any bird, and the only animal to winter on Antarctica's open ice.

In order to survive the biting cold, Emperor Penguins are very social creatures that huddle together to conserve warmth. Each penguin spends time in the middle of the huddle to stay warm, but accepts when it is his time to move to the perimeter.

Female Emperors lay a single egg in autumn before heading to sea to hunt krill and squid.  Depending on the extent of the ice pack, they may be forced to trek long distances to reach the ocean. During the separation, males envelop the egg in a brood pouch above their feet.

By the time the eggs hatch, male Emperors have not eaten for several months.  When the females return with food for their chicks, hungry fathers head to sea.  From then on both parents attend the young.  In summer, when the ice around the breeding colony breaks up, the young learn to swim and fish by themselves.

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