This one hundred Dollar gold
proof
coin issued in 2001 was the seventh 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 Golden Wattle, which is the
floral emblem of the Commonwealth of 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 $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 Golden Wattle, 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 Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is surrounded by the
legend
that reads ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001. 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 2001 $100 GOLD UNCIRCULATED or PROOF accordingly.
The Golden Wattle, or Acacia pycnantha to some, is a tree, native to Australia and found in most states. The tree grows
to about 8 metres in height and when it flowers in late winter, it produces beautiful fragrances from it's golden flowers.
Both the bark and the flowers are used around the world as the smooth brown bark produces a high yield of tannin and the
fluffy flowers can be used in perfumes.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
The trees are very distinctive especially in the late winter and spring months when the tree is covered in bright yellow
flowers. The golden wattle and its colours have been a symbol of Australia for many years but it wasn't until 1988 that it
became the floral emblem of Australia and September 1st became National Wattle Day.
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