New this month from the Perth Mint of Australia is its 2014 Battle of the Coral Sea Silver Bullion Coin with each composed from one-half ounce of 99.9% pure silver.
Appearing on the reverse or tails side is a scene representative of the historic World War II naval engagement.
"The Battle of the Coral Sea was fought off the north-east coast of Australia during 4 to 8 May 1942 between the Imperial Japanese Navy and allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia," describes the Perth Mint. "A highly significant Second World War engagement, it effectively stopped the Japanese advance to the south and has been referred to as the ‘battle that saved Australia‘."
Coins feature a World War II battleship with guns raised against a depiction of the Southern Cross constellation and the Stars and Stripes. Around the naval ship and symbolic background are the inscriptions of BATTLE IN THE CORAL SEA and WAR IN THE PACIFIC 1941 – 1945
Minted as Australia legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965, Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II graces the coin’s obverse or heads side. Surrounding inscriptions include ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, the face value of 50 CENTS, the year 2014 and the purity of 1/2 OZ 999 SILVER.
2014 Battle of the Coral Sea Silver Bullion Coins ship worldwide in 25-coin protective acrylic tubes with a tamper evident security seal. "Monster boxes" with 20 tubes, or 500 coins, are also available. The Perth Mint noted that this latest bullion coin is available at $4.95 over spot with bulk orders of 500 or more available for $3.95 over spot.
Other bullion coins introduced by the Perth Mint this year include the 2014 Australian Saltwater Crocodile 1 Oz Silver Bullion Coin and the 2014 Great White Shark 1/2 Oz Silver Bullion Coin.
For more information about Perth Mint bullion products, visit its website at www.perthmintbullion.com.
I like the idea of the Australian Mint celebrating the USA Naval victory over the IJN at the Battle of the Coral Sea. But I do have a problem with the the ship they put on the coin which is a Battleship. This Naval Battle was the first Naval battle where neither Fleet came into ship to ship contact, the entire battle was fought by the Naval aircraft of both fleets Aircraft Carriers and in fact there were no US Naval Battleships at this battle. A Aircraft Carrier should have gone on this coin.