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Australia Duyfken

2006 Proof Ten Dollar

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This Duyfken solid gold coin is part of the 400 years of Friendship set. The Royal Australian Mint released this coin set to commemorate the 400 years since the Duyfken first came across Australian shores. The reverse was designed by Horst Hahne and features his impression of the Duyfken in full sail mode. There is also an old style compass and a rose signifying the relationship with the Netherlands from whence it came. The legend VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY DUYFKEN 1606 2006 is also present. The obverse contains an Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, right-facing with tiara and earrings. It also has the legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2006.

The Duyfken (translates as 'little dove') was a small Dutch ship which was only armed with a few small cannons but was fast and very manoeuvrable. Its captain was Willem Janszoon and his mission was to be a scout and pathfinder. It was he that made the first authenticated landing in Australia by a European by chance back in 1606 whilst looking for the islands of King Solomon's mines. He also assisted in mapping some parts of the Australian coastline. This was an important milestone in the discovery of the continent. So much so that in 1999 a replica Duyfken project was undertaken in Fremantle, Western Australia (ABC, 2013) . The project was led by led by Fremantle community leader Michael G. Kailis, who unfortunately passed away in June 1999, only weeks before the ship was due to be launched. The cost of the project was $3.7 million and work started on the drawing board back in 1993. They used the original skills of shipbuilding from Dutch method which proved so successful. The Duyfken is believed to be the only ship operating in the world using a traditional Dutch whipstaff for steering. The Duyfken's crew sailed the 20 metre sailing ship replica from Sydney to Jakarta, then along the original spice trade route to The Netherlands and arrived back in Sydney in May, 2002.