This one hundred Dollar gold
proof
coin issued in 1996 was the second to be released from a series of nine entitled Floral Emblems of Australia. The set
was released between the years of 1995 and 2003 with a coin featuring the floral emblem of each state as well as the Commonwealth,
the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. This particular coin features the Blue Gum, which is the floral
emblem of Tasmania. Each emblem of the entire series is represented on three different coins. The first is a $150 half Troy
ounce
proof
coin and the remaining two are both $100 one-third Troy ounce proof coins, one of which is an
uncirculated version.
(Royal Australian Mint, 2002)
With regards to the $100 coins there was a limited
mintage
of 2500 for the standard proof and 3000 for the uncirculated proof. Credit for the design of the
reverse of this coin goes to Horst Hahne.
The design is very simple and features the Blue Gum, which takes up the majority of the space. The
legend
100 DOLLARS is curved beneath the flower following the shape of the coin. The
obverse features the Raphael Maklouf portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is surrounded by the
legend
that reads ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1996. The $100 coins were issued in a plush burgundy presentation case and accompanying
it was a Certificate of Authenticity and booklet of information pertaining to the different floral emblems. The outer box
was also a burgundy colour and features the text FLORAL EMBLEMS OF AUSTRALIA written above a picture of the flower represented
within. Below was written 1996 $100 GOLD UNCIRCULATED or PROOF accordingly.
The Blue Gum tree goes by a variety of names such as the Tasmanian Blue Gum, the Southern Blue Gum or its scientific name
eucalyptus globulus. They are an evergreen tree that grow to up to 180 ft tall and are the most widely cultivated of all
of the native Australian trees. Although found in other areas the Blue Gum is most commonly found in Tasmania and Southern
Victoria.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
The leaves can be used to extract eucalyptus oil and the Blue Gum tree is actually the primary source of the popular
oil. The leaves can also be used to make tea and the flowers are a great source of pollen and nectar making them a favourite
with bees. In 1962 the Tasmanian Blue Gum tree was made the floral emblem of Tasmania.
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