2012 KOOKABURRA Australia HIGH RELIEF 1 Oz Silver Dollar Proof in FULL OGP

Description

In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
Long SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint!
A kookaburra laughs from his perch in the eucalyptus tree on this high relief, pure silver dollar piedfort (extra-thick coin)!
The
kookaburra
is one of the definitive symbols of Australia, the island continent. The Perth Mint and Talisman Coins are proud to bring you an incredible new addition to the renowned Australian Kookaburra coin series. This one ounce,
pure silver
dollar
is the
first-ever
Ultra High Relief Kookaburra Piedfort Proof
from the Mint! The coin is struck in
ultra high, medallic relief
on a concave, extra-thick planchet (it is a
piedfort
) with a proof finish. It depicts a kookaburra laughing merrily on the branch of an eucalyptus (gum) tree. With its extremely limited mintage of only 10,000, we expect Kookaburra collectors to snatch this one up in record time.
Note—This is the very first high relief piedfort Kookaburra EVER
in the 25 year history of this series of the most-collected of all Australian coins!
It is also the FIRST of a new, annual series of High Relief Silver Kookaburras and will be in heavy demand for years to come as the series progresses!
With a total mintage limit of only 10,000, this coin
sold out at the Mint quickly!
All Kookaburra 1 Ounce Silver collectors need this coin!
An Ultra High Relief, Proof Piedfort!
Once again, the Perth Mint has done the fauna and natural beauty of Australia proud! The coin is struck in ultra high relief, with a frosted cameo proof finish, and is a
piedfort
(extra-thick coin), measuring a substantial 6 mm thick!
What is a Piedfort?
Popular with collectors for more than a century, and always hard to find, piedforts are highly sought after. We get asked all the time, "What is a piedfort?" There are two different, but related, stories of the origin of the word "piedfort". The first says that it literally means "strong foot" in French (from
pied
, foot and
fort
, strong). The second says this word was appropriated by the mint centuries ago to mean "heavy measure" or "heavy weight". In both cases, the sense of serious heft to the coin is obvious.
Often the word "piedfort" is translated as "double-thick", but this is neither a literal translation nor a precisely accurate definition. Numismatically speaking, any coin that is 50% or more thicker than a standard version qualifies as a
piedfort
, although some piedforts are, indeed, twice as thick as normal.
Finally, the age-old question, "How is the word pronounced?" Coming from French, it is not pronounced as it is spelled; that is, don't say, "pide - fort". Rather, "pee - ay - four" (three syllables) is a good approximation.
What's So Funny?
The kookaburra is probably the best known bird of Australia. There are actually four species of kookaburra found in Australia and New Guinea. All are members of the Kingfisher family. Far and away the most familiar is the
Laughing Kookaburra
(
Dacelo novaeguineae
).
Kookaburras are famous for their unmistakable call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter - good-natured, if rather hysterical, merriment in the case of the Laughing Kookaburra; and maniacal cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-Winged Kookaburra (
D. leachii
). The word "kookaburra" is borrowed from an aboriginal word of the Wiradjura language, "guuguubarra", which is onomatopoeic of (replicates) the avian's call.
Kookaburras are carnivorous. They eat lizards, snakes, insects, mice and raw meat. The more socialized birds will accept handouts from humans and will take raw or cooked meat from open-air barbecues left unattended.
Kookas
are territorial, and often live with the partly grown chicks of the previous season.
The notoriety of the kookaburra's laugh, as well as its nervy antics, has been spread worldwide by the popular children's song "Kookaburra" by Marion Sinclair. Please see the end of this article for the complete lyrics to the song "Kookaburra".
Obverse
A single
laughing kookaburra
perches on a branch of that most
Australian
of all trees, the eucalyptus. The legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The Perth Mint "P" mint mark is judiciously placed between two eucalyptus leaves at the 9:00 position near the edge. The legend AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA and the date are also indicated.
Reverse
A frosted cameo portrait of Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II
, 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 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
2012
Face Value
One Dollar
Weight
31.135 g
Diameter
32.60 mm
Gauge (Thickness)
6.00 mm
Mintage Limit
10,000
Finish
Proof with Ultra High Relief
Composition
.999 Fine (Pure) Silver
Edge
Reeded (milled, serrated)
Artist
Perth Mint engravers (obverse)
Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse)
Certificate
Individually Numbered
"Kookaburra" by Marion Sinclair
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh kookaburra, laugh
Kookaburra, gay your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gumdrops that he can see
Stop, kookaburra, stop
Kookaburra, leave some there for me
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Chasing all the monkeys he can see
Stop, kookaburra, stop
Kookaburra, that's not a monkey, that's me!
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