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Australia Lawson

1993 Proof Five Dollar

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This $5 dollar silver proof coin bears the images not only of Lawson but also of Blaxland and Wentworth and is one coin out of a 5 piece set. "The Explorers" is the title of one of the Masterpieces in Silver proof coin sets, which was released in two parts in 1993 and 1994. Each of the two parts contains five coins, which commemorate the explorations done throughout Australia by various explorers. The other 9 coins that make up the complete set each feature the image of just one important explorer, which makes this coin the exception as it bears the faces of the three men Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth who together crossed the Blue Mountains.

This coin is taken from the first half of the 'The Explorers' set released in 1993, from which the remaining four coins commemorate the explorations carried out by Tasman, Cook, Flinders and of course the first explorers of the continent, the Aborigines. The five coins that make up the second half, released in 1994 commemorate explorers Sturt, Leichhardt, McDouall-Stuart, Forrest and Mawson.

The reverse of this coin bears the portraits of the three men who explored and crossed the Blue Mountains, W. Lawson, W.C. Wentworth and C.Blaxland against the map of Australia. The reverse was designed by Vladimir Gottwald and has the legend "5 DOLLARS" slightly overlapping the map at the top right as well as the names of the men underneath. The obverse features the traditional effigyof Queen Elizabeth II designed by Raphael Maklouf and the legend "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1993". The packaging, in which this first half of the set was presented was a simple black box with the text "1993 MASTERPIECES IN SILVER" written in block silver letters at the top centre and a logo representing 'The Explorers'. A certificate of authenticity was included within the box which describes the coins and their designers as well as some text which reads: 'This numbered certificate authenticates the accompanying set of five silver coins in a limited mintage of 20,000 sets as legal tenderAustralian coins. Each piece has been designed and struck to the highest possible quality standards by the Royal Australian Mint.'

Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth were three men from different backgrounds whom came together in New South Wales in 1813. Blaxland desired additional grazing land and decided to take on the challenge of crossing the Blue Mountains, which up until that point had not been successfully crossed by any European. He assembled an exploration team and determined that the easiest method to cross would be by following the ridges. The team made up of Lawson, Blaxland, Wentworth, one local guide, three convicts and four horses set out on the 11th May. They travelled slowly setting up camps and walking on a few miles at a time, setting a trail for themselves and then returning for the horses and supplies. After 21 days they had reached the height of Mount Blaxland and were able to return home fast and simply along the trail they had created which also paved the way for others. They each kept a journal of their exploration but due to the detailed writing and descriptions of the trails, Lawson's journal became the most significant.