The Perth Mint of Australia’s one-year "Land Down Under" series continues with 2013 Captain James Cook 1/4 oz Gold Proof Coins and 2013 Captain James Cook 1 oz Silver Proof Coins.
They are struck from 99.99% pure gold and 99.9% pure silver, respectively. Mintages are limited to 1,000 gold coins and 5,000 silver coins.
Coins of the Land Down Under series portray reverse designs showcasing Australia’s culture, lifestyle and landmarks. Previous strikes depicted the Sydney Opera House and the Didgeridoo. The next coins will feature surfing.
Appearing on the reverse of the latest Land Down Under coins are designs featuring Captain James Cook.
"Cook’s place in Australian history cannot be underestimated," notes the Perth Mint. "On his first voyage alone, he charted thousands of miles of Australia’s coastline with astonishing accuracy. He is remembered as a courageous individual and one of the foremost navigators of his age."
James Cook was born in 1728 in Yorkshire England. He joined the Royal Navy and quickly rose up the ranks owing, in large part, to his astonishing navigational and charting abilities. Those talents landed him the command of the HMS Bark Endeavour with confidential orders in August of 1768 to map the "Great Southern Land." He would also go on to make other expeditions mostly into uncharted waters, including a voyage to the Hawaiian Islands where he was killed.
Cook’s portrait on the reverse of the gold coin is featured beside an image of the HMS Bark Endeavour. Reverse inscriptions include THE LAND DOWN UNDER and 1/4 OZ 9999 Gold.
A colored reverse is found on the silver coin. Cook is once again depicted with an outline of the Australian continent. Inside the outline, the HMS Bark Endeavour can be seen. Reverse inscriptions include THE LAND DOWN UNDER and 1 OZ 999 SILVER.
Both coins are struck as legal tender of Australia with the gold coin featuring a face value of $25 and the silver a face value of $1. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II graces their obverses. Inscriptions surrounding the portraits include ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, 2013 and their face values.
An Australian map-shaped latex case is included with each coin. A numbered certificate of authenticity and an illustrated shipper are included as well.
The coins may be ordered directly from The Perth Mint website at www.perthmint.com.au.
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They are pretty coins with amazingly low mintage. I wonder what they’ll have to sell for, in order to recover production costs?