Settings Subscribe  

NumisTip

Australia Sea Life

2011-P Proof Silver Fifty Cent

Values

Sales History

Current listings

?

This Hawksbill Turtle piece was released in 2010 as part of the Perth mint 's Sea Life series. The series celebrates some of Australia's most unique reef dwelling species. The reverse of this particular coin features a coloured depiction of the Turtle with the legend 'AUSTRALIAN SEA LIFE II - THE REEF' and 'HAWKSBILL TURTLE'. The obverse houses the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the legend 'ELIZABETH II - AUSTRALIA - 50 CENTS - 1/2 OZ 999 SILVER - 2011.'

Hawksbill turtles can be found in the world's tropical oceans. (World Wildlife Fund, 2017) They are distinguished from other turtles by their sharp pointed beak. They have stunning patterning that has lead to them being hunted for their shells. IUCN have labelled the species as critically endangered, identifying the tortoiseshell trade, egg collection, and slaughter for meat being the major threats. (J. A Mortimer and M. Donnelly, 2008) The destruction of their habitat is also a major concern as a number of marine ecosystems struggle due to Climate Change induced coral bleaching.