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Australia Sturts Desert Rose

2002 Proof One Hundred Fifty Dollar

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This one hundred fifty Dollar gold proof coin issued in 2002 was the eighth 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 Sturts Desert Rose, which is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory. 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 Sturts Desert Rose, 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 Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is surrounded by the legend that reads ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2002. 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 2002 $150 GOLD PROOF. Additionally a larger presentation case was made available, in which the entire series can be housed.

Sturt's Desert Rose, known to some as Gossyplum sturtianum is found across Australia and is native to most states but most significantly to the Northern Territory. It has a very long life cycle of typically as long as 10 years. (Wikipedia, 2013) Its petals are pink, purple or maroon and each flower is made up of five petals arranged in a whorl with a small cotton spore in the dark red centre. Its ability to store water means that is often found in dry and rocky soils as well as sandy, dried up gorges and creek beds. Its common name honours its discoverer the explorer Charles Sturt, who first recorded having sighted it in 1844. The Sturt's Desert Rose appears on the official flag of the Northern Territory as well as being its floral emblem.