Australia 2017 Koala Bear Sitting on Eucalyptus Tree 1 Oz Pure Silver Dollar

Description

In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint!
This year's koala pure silver dollar finds our koala bear in his natural habitat, sitting at the base of an eucalyptus tree in in the Australian outback! Get this one-year-only design - this year with a mintage limit of just 300,000!
The
koala bear
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
pure silver
, artistically rendered in a reverse proof finish, in which the design or devices are mirrored. This year the design finds our
koala bear
in his natural habitat, walking along the branch of an eucalyptus tree in search of tasty gum tree leaves!
This beautiful coin is part of the highly collectible series of
Pure Silver Koalas
. 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.
The Pure Silver Koala has a face value of
one dollar
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!
Obverse
This year the design finds our
koala bear
in his natural habitat, walking along the branch of an eucalyptus tree in search of tasty gum tree leaves! The Perth Mint "P" mint mark is judiciously located to the left of the eucalyptus tree in the background, near the 9:00 position near the rim. The legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The legend AUSTRALIAN KOALA and the date are also indicated.
Reverse
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.
Specifications
Country
Australia
Mint
Perth Mint of Australia
Year of Issue
2017
Face Value
One Dollar
Weight
31.135 g
Diameter
40.60 mm
Gauge (Thickness)
4.00 mm
Mintage Limit
300,000
Finish
Reverse Proof
Composition
.999 Fine (Pure) Silver
Edge
Reeded (milled, serrated)
Artist
Perth Mint engravers (obverse)
Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse)
Packaging
Encapsulated
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