Description: In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!Long SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint! Beautiful design, extremely low mintage (just 2,500), vibrant full color and the menacing SALTWATER CROCODILE make for a perfect numismatic collectible! The ANA (American Numismatic Association) held its annual World's Fair of Money in August 2010 in the historic city of Boston. To celebrate this numismatic gathering (widely touted as the largest coin show in the world!), the Perth Mint and Talisman Coins are proud to offer this unique and truly rare, pure silver saltwater crocodile coin, with a total of only 2,500 silver dollars being issued! What's more, this is only the third silver release in the extremely popular Celebrate Australia Program. This coin combines a highly popular animal motif with an aesthetically superior design, executed by renowned wildlife artist Elise Martinson. Add in the ridiculously low mintage limit, the pure silver and the proof finish with full color, and you've got a sure winner! The 8th and final release in the Celebrate Australia Silver Dollar Program has been issued! As such, it completes this popular, exciting, and low-mintage Coin Show series. Silver dollars in this program include: 1) Queensland, Great Barrier Reef & Sea Turtle 2) Victoria, Melbourne Train Station & Penguin 3) Northern Territories & Saltwater Crocodile 4) New South Wales, Sydney & Koala 5) Australian Capital Territory, Canberra & Cockatoo 6) South Australia, Adelaide & Wombat 7) Tasmania, Cradle Mountain & Tasmanian Devil 8) Western Australia, Perth & Kangaroo The Northern Territory The Northern Territory (NT) is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the center of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions. The territorial capital is Darwin. The Northern Territory shares borders with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south, and Queensland to the east. To the north, the territory is bordered by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Despite its large area (over 520,000 square miles, making it the third largest Australian federal division) the NT is sparsely populated. With a population of 221,100 it is the least populous division on the mainland. The coin’s obverse depicts a colored composition of Kakadu National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The design includes an image of a saltwater crocodile (or "saltie") and Sturt's Desert Rose, the NT’s floral emblem. Please see the articles near the end of this presentation for more information about the Saltwater Crocodile and Kakadu National Park. About The Artist The creator of the original artwork for both the coins and the colorful, outer boxes for the Celebrate Australia series is Elise Martinson. Elise is an Australian artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who loves animals (as you can see from her photo!). After studying multimedia design for four years and then working for year and a half as a graphic designer, she became eager to follow her dreams of creating 3D art for games or movies. Realizing that the limiting factor to 2D and 3D artwork was not software knowledge, but rather the ability to create concepts and accurately render them, she is now dedicated to further cultivating her drawing ability. Elise was formerly a resident of Melbourne, Victoria but now resides in Perth, Western Australia. Obverse A colored composition of Kakadu National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The design includes an image of a saltwater crocodile (or "saltie") and Sturt's Desert Rose, the NT’s floral emblem. The legend NORTHERN TERRITORIES denotes the theme, while the legend 1 OZ 99.9 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The Perth Mint "P" mint mark also appears. 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 QUEEN ELIZABETH II and denomination also appear. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside a handsome taupe leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and satin, and 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 One Dollar Weight 31.135 g Diameter 40.60 mm Gauge (Thickness) 4.00 mm Mintage Limit 2,500 Finish Proof with Color Composition .999 Fine (Pure) Silver Edge Reeded (milled, serrated) Artist Elise Martinson (obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse) Certificate Individually Numbered The Saltwater Crocodile The saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living reptiles (and therefore of all living crocodilians as well). A large male can measure over 20 feet long and weigh over 2,500 pounds! The saltwater croc is found in suitable habitats throughout Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and the surrounding waters. Saltwater crocodiles are known in northern Australia as "salties" (as opposed to the smaller, freshwater crocodile species colloquially called "freshies"). Due to this species' tendency to travel very long distances at sea, individual saltwater crocodiles occasionally show up in odd locales where they are not native. Vagrant individuals have historically been reported on New Caledonia, Iwo Jima, Fiji, and even in the relatively frigid Sea of Japan (thousands of miles from their native territory.) Saltwater crocodiles generally spend the tropical wet season in freshwater swamps and rivers, moving downstream to estuaries in the dry season, and sometimes traveling far out to sea. Crocodiles compete fiercely with each other for territory, with dominant males in particular occupying the most eligible stretches of freshwater creeks and streams. Junior crocodiles are thus forced into the more marginal river systems and sometimes into the ocean. This explains the large distribution of the animal (ranging from the east coast of India to northern Australia) as well as its being found in odd places on occasion (such as the Sea of Japan). Saltwater crocodiles can swim 15 to 18 miles per hour in short bursts, but when cruising go 2 to 3 mph. A Powerful and Deadly Predator The saltwater crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator capable of taking any animal that enters its territory, either in the water or on dry land. Domestic cattle, horse, water buffalo, sharks and gaur, all of which may weigh over a ton, are considered the largest prey taken by male crocodiles. As an ambush predator, it usually waits for its prey to get close to the water's edge before striking, using its great strength to drag the animal back into the water. Most prey animals are killed by the great jaw pressure of the crocodile, although some animals may be incidentally drowned. It is an immensely powerful animal, having the strength to drag a fully grown water buffalo into a river, or crush a full-grown bovid's skull between its jaws. In its deadliest attack, called the "death roll," the saltie grabs onto the animal and rolls powerfully. This throws any struggling large animal off balance making it easier to drag it into the water. The "death roll" is also used for tearing apart large animals once they are dead. The only threats to adult saltwater crocodiles are other crocodiles and humans. Of course, the saltwater croc also poses a threat to humans as well. In Australia, attacks are rare and usually make headlines when they do occur. There are, on average, no more than one or two fatal attacks reported per year in the country. The low level of attacks is most likely due to the extensive effort by local wildlife officials to post crocodile "warning" signs at nearly every billabong, river, lake and even at some beaches and also due to the relatively well-informed nature of the local citizens. Kakadu National Park Highly significant to the Aboriginal people, Kakadu also contains a major concentration of ancient cave paintings and rock carvings. These offer a fascinating glimpse into a way of life many thousands of years old. Jim Jim Falls, measuring 660 feet (200 meters) in height, is the tallest waterfall in the Park, while the Arnhem Land Escarpment rises nearly 1100 feet (330 meters) above the plateau and extends approximately 300 miles (500 kilometers) along the eastern edge of the Park and into Arnhem Land. In recognition of its ecological importance and patrimonial heritage, Kakadu is inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for both its natural and cultural value. Copyright © 2022 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.
Price: 74.45 USD
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
End Time: 2024-02-05T19:18:41.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Country/Region of Manufacture: Australia
Certification: New in original mint packaging as issued
Grade: Proof Uncirculated
Type: Commemorative
Year: 2010
Circulated/Uncirculated: Uncirculated Proof
Composition: Pure Silver
Denomination: $1 One Dollar