Description: A friendly, hungry koala chows down on his favorite meal of eucalyptus leaves on this affordable, pure gold beauty! This listing is for the single coin with Certificate Number 00008 - All original packaging, in Mint Condition!In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment! SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint! The koala is one of the iconic symbols of Australia, made all the more desirable by the Perth Mint's execution of this cute and cuddly critter in four 9s pure gold, artistically rendered in a frosted cameo proof finish! Even better is the price! Leave it to the Perth Mint to make the luxury of a .9999 fine gold proof affordable for everyone! With its low mintage of only 15,000, it's also an excellent investment consideration! This beautiful coin is latest addition to the highly collectible series of Australian Koala coins. The obverse design of this series, with the koala bear, changes each year, further enhancing its collectibility. The reverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the British Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member. This Pure Gold Koala has a face value of five dollars and can be difficult to locate, much less in pristine condition, so we advise you to acquire one when you find them. A Most Unusual and Surprising Bear! Despite its appearance, the koala bear isn't really a bear at all, but rather a marsupial. Nonetheless it fascinates us because it's so darn cute - it looks like a living teddy bear! Appearances can be deceiving here, too, because koalas aren't cuddly, either. They are arboreal (tree-dwelling), so they have very strong, sharp claws for climbing (and their bite can cause injury, as well). Koala bears live nearly their entire lives in the eucalyptus (gum) tree, where they feed almost exclusively on its leaves. They have a very low metabolism for a mammal, so they spend up to 20 hours a day resting and sleeping (and the rest mostly eating). Eucalypt leaves are high in toxic chemicals such as phenols and terpenes, which only the koala has adapted to deal with - the toxins are neutralized in its specialized liver. Marsupials are unusual, and, many scientists believe, more primitive, mammals. Their best-known characteristic is the pouch for their young, and the koala is no exception. The babies, called joeys, are only a quarter-inch long when born, and enter the world hairless, blind and earless, so the safety of mother koala's pouch is a necessity for its first six months of life. For its second half-year the joey will generally ride on mom's back. Koala Fun Facts You'd think that it couldn't get any more odd than a living stuffed animal that spends its entire life in, and only eats the leaves of, one kind of tree. If so, you'd be wrong - koalas are among Nature's most unusual and unique creatures. Here's a couple of other oddities about these fascinating fur balls. Koalas are often thought to be silent, and they are most of the time, but males have a very loud mating call that can be heard for a distance of about one kilometer away during the breeding season! When attacked, koalas may issue a loud cry, which is often likened to that of a human baby. The koala bear is one of the few mammals (other than primates) that has fingerprints. Koala fingerprints are remarkably similar to human fingerprints - even when viewed with an electron microscope, it can be quite difficult for an expert to distinguish between the two! Technology Note The marvelous minting and refining technologies of the Perth Mint have brought us this petite gold proof, in a purity (99.99%) that puts other, larger gold coins to shame! Obverse A cute koala, perched on a gum tree branch, looks at us as he munches on a eucalyptus leaf. The Perth Mint "P" mint mark is judiciously hidden in the leaves of the branch at the 8:00 position near the rim. The legend 1/25 OZ 9999 GOLD guarantees the weight and purity. Reverse Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II, the date of issue and denomination also appear. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside an elegant, luxury presentation case with a native Australian jarrah wood lid, protected by a full-color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Specifications Country Australia Mint Perth Mint of Australia Year of Issue 2010 Face Value 5 Dollars Weight 1.244 g Diameter 14.10 mm Gauge (Thickness) 1.40 mm Mintage Limit 15,000 Finish Proof Composition .9999 Fine (Pure) Gold Edge Reeded (milled, serrated) Artist Wade Robinson (obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse) Certificate Individually Numbered Talisman World Coins and Medals has been in business for more than 20 years and is one of the largest world coin direct distributors and wholesalers in the world. ANA Life Member. Copyright © 2012 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.
Price: 188.88 USD
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
End Time: 2024-02-26T15:50:19.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
Restocking Fee: No
Return policy details:
Circulated/Uncirculated: Uncirculated
Year: 2010
Composition: Gold
