This Kangaroo Paw one hundred fifty dollar gold
proof
coin issued in 1997 was the third 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 Kangaroo Paw, which is the
floral emblem of Western Australia. 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 $150 coins there was a limited
mintage
of 1500. Credit for the design of the reverse of this coin goes to
Horst Hahne. The design is very simple and features the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw, which takes up the majority of the space. The
legend
150 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 1997. The $150 coins were issued in a Tasmanian Blackwood presentation case and accompanying
it was a Certificate of Authenticity and booklet of information pertaining to the different floral emblems. The outer box
was a burgundy colour and features the text FLORAL EMBLEMS OF AUSTRALIA written above a picture of the flower represented
within. Below was written 1997 $150 GOLD PROOF. Additionally a larger presentation case was made available, in which the
entire series can be housed.
Red and Green Kangaroo Paw also known as Mangles Kangaroo Paw or Anigozanthos manglesii is a visually impressive and colourful
plant that is endemic to Western Australia. It's common name of Kangaroo paw was given because of the appearance of it's
flower that stands high having grown from the end of long red stalks. The leaves are largest at the base and become smaller
as they reach the tip.Between the months of August and November when the flowers come out, they create a beautiful display.
The symbolic flower is a popular one and the flowers tend to last well once picked. However in order to collect them from
the wild a license must be obtained. Kangaroos paw features in the Coat of Arms of Western Australia and in 1960 it was adopted
as the states floral emblem.
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