This coin celebrates the Kookaburra and is part of a Bird Series of
commemorative
coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint. Released in 1989, this was the first coin in the series, which celebrates
the native birds of Australia. The final coin of the set paid tribute to the Wedge Tail Eagle, and was released in 1994.
The coins were issued on a yearly basis and the other birds featured are the White Cockatoo, the Jabiru, the Emperor Penguin
and the Palm Cockatoo.
This issue was produced both as a standard
proof
strike and as a
piedfort
proof
and both types were struck into a sterling silver planchet
. The reverse of this coin features two kookaburras sitting on the branch
of a tree looking out in the same direction and was designed by Horst Hahne. The only
legend
on this side of the coin is the denomination TEN DOLLARS. The obverse
features the Maklouf portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1989. The individual packaging in which each coin is encased is beautifully illustrated with a
detailed and colourful picture of the bird featured inside. As you would expect the
piedfort
proof coin came in a thicker box and the artistically stylised text reads 1989 Ten Dollar Silver Piedfort Coin. Underneath
in a simpler font reads BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. The packaging housing the standard proof coin is much the same only thinner and
with the head title reading 1989 10 Dollar silver Proof coin. Both types of the original packaging includes a 'Certificate
of Authenticity' as well as a short description of the bird and its behaviour. The standard coin comes in a rectangular case
whilst the
piedfort
comes with a circular presentation case. There was a limited
mintage
of the proof coin of 50,000.
Kookaburras are native to both Australia and New Guinea and are terrestrial tree king fishers. They are known for their
distinctive bird call, which is reminiscent of human laughter. There are a number of different species of the kookaburra
including the laughing kookaburra and the blue winged kookaburra.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
Their favoured habitats can vary quite significantly and they have been found anywhere from humid forest to the savanna
and even in residential areas with plenty of tall trees. The Kookaburra was chosen as one of three mascots for the 2000 Olympics
in Sydney as it was thought to effectively represent Australia.
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