Settings Subscribe  

NumisTip

Australia Royal Blue Bell

2003 One Hundred Dollar

Values

Sales History

Current listings

?

Between 1995 and 2003 the Royal Australian Mint released nine pieces as part of the Floral Emblems of Australia series. The series featured the floral emblems of each state as well as the Commonwealth, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. Each of the nine emblems is featured on three different coins; a one hundred-fifty dollar half Troy ounce proof coin, and two hundred dollar pieces, one of which is uncirculated and the other a one-third Troy ounce proof piece.

This particular coin features the Royal Blue Bell, which is the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory. The elegant reverse was designed by Horst Hahne and features the Royal Blue Bell with the legend "100 DOLLARS" curved beneath the flower. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and is surrounded by the legend that reads "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2003."

The Royal Bluebell or the Wahlenbergia gloriosa is a wild flower found across Australia. Its typical favoured environment includes places of high rainfall and is found in particularly plentiful quantities in the Australian Alps. It can be seen in both shady areas and regions of direct and bright sunlight. As a wild flower they do not reach great heights and the deep blue and purple colours will be spotted on the ground. Flowering generally occurs between October and March. The botanical name of the flower was given in honour of the Swedish Professor of Botony, Georg Goran Wahlenberg. The Royal Bluebell was made the official floral emblem for the Australian Capital Territory in 1981.