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Australia Echidna

1992 Proof Two Hundred Dollar

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This Echidna 1990 Two Hundred Dollar Pride of Australia Gold coin is the fourth of six coins in the Pride of Australia wildlife series. The other coins in the series are the Frilled Neck Lizard (1989), Platypus (1990), Emu (1991), Squirrel Glider (1993) and the Tasmanian Devil (1994). The reverse was designed by Horst Hahne and features a Echidna in its natural habitat. It contains the legend "PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS". The obverse displays Raphael Maklouf's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, right facing, crowned with necklace and earrings. Around this portrait is the legend "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1992".

The Echidna is the oldest mammal on the planet. They can be found throughout Australia and in parts of New Guinea in a variety of environments including quite extreme temperatures. A number of subspecies have developed localised variations like denser fur to deal with their environment. Using their snout and long tongue the echidna forages for ants, termites, earthworms, and some beetles. Although habitat loss, motor vehicles, and domestic cats and dogs pose a substantial threat to the echidna they are a highly resilient species and remain very common.