2012 Australian High Relief Four-Coin Silver Proof Set Debuts

Making its debut this month from the Perth Mint of Australia is the 2012 High Relief Four-Coin Silver Proof Set.

This proof set contains a collection of four high relief silver proof coins each struck from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver and initially issued individually earlier in 2012. It does, however, mark the first time the high relief designs are offered in one four-coin set.

The four coins of the collection include the 2012 High Relief Australian Lunar Series II Year of the Dragon Silver Coin (initially released in March), the 2012 Australian High Relief Kookaburra Silver Coin (initially released in May), the 2012 Australian High Relief Kangaroo Silver Coin (initially released in July) and the 2012 Australian High Relief Koala Silver Coin (initially released in September). All four proof coins are presented together in one display case and ship with an illustrated shipper and a numbered certificate of authenticity.

That certificate indicates the limited mintage of the silver proof set. According to the Perth Mint, no more than 1,000 will be released.

Designs and Specifications for Coins in Silver Proof Set

All four coins of the proof set are struck to the same basic specifications. Those are offered in the table below:

Individual Silver Coin Specifications

 

Depicted on the reverse of the 2012 Year of the Dragon High Relief Silver Proof Coin is an image of the creature with the inscription of "Year of Dragon" seen below it. Also shown in the design is the Chinese character for dragon and a representation of the ‘pearl of wisdom.’

The 2012 Kookaburra High Relief Silver Proof Coin offers an image of the bird perched on a branch for its reverse design. Designed by artist Darryl Bellotti, the reverse also includes the inscriptions of "AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA" and "2012 1 OZ 999 SILVER."

Found on the reverse of the 2012 Kangaroo High Relief Silver Proof Coin is a single kangaroo placed in a traditional Australian bush scene complete with a windmill and a water tank. Perth Mint artist Wade Robinson designed the reverse which also includes the inscriptions of "AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO" and "2012 1 OZ 999 SILVER."

Offered on the reverse of the 2012 High Relief Koala Silver Proof Coin is the image of a sleeping koala draped around the branch of a eucalyptus tree. Reverse inscriptions on this coin include "AUSTRALIAN KOALA" and "2012 1 OZ 999 SILVER."

These four coins are all struck as legal tender of Australia and, as such, contain the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. Her portrait is surrounded by the inscriptions of "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA," and "1 DOLLAR" with the additional inscriptions of "2012" and "1 OZ 999 FINE SILVER" found on the obverse of the Year of the Dragon coin.

Order Details

While the limited mintage of 1,000 remains, the 2012 High Relief Four-Coin Silver Proof Set may be ordered directly from the Perth Mint. Pricing is listed at AUD $400.00, or US $415.16. Prices are subject to change based on market conditions.

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About the Perth Mint

The Royal Mint of England originally opened the Perth Mint of Australia (www.perthmint.com.au) in 1899 as a branch of the London facility. Its original purpose was to refine gold from nearby deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and mint gold sovereigns from it.