Gold Coin Australian Antarctic Territory - Emperor Penguin 1 Oz 2023

Australian Antarctic Territory 2023 - Emperor Penguin

Minted by the Royal Australian Mint in 2023 in the finest 99.99% pure gold, this 1 Oz gold investment coin is part of the Australian Antarctic Territory series, which showcases the inhospitable Australian Antarctic Territory through its hardy animal inhabitants. The emperor penguin was chosen for the first coin in the series.

The reverse side of the coin depicts an adult emperor penguin and its chick standing on the edge of an Antarctic glacier. In the background, a colony of penguins form a line heading towards the ocean, in whose icy waters they exercise their excellent swimming skills to catch fish. The motif is completed by the line of mountains and the inscription "EMPEROR PENGUIN" at the top of the coin with the weight and purity of the metal "1 oz .9999 GOLD". The initials of the designer "AWB" are included.
The Australian Antarctic Territory consists of two separate spherical triangles in the eastern part of Antarctica, extending from the 60th parallel south to the South Pole, where they meet. They are separated by Adelaide Land, part of the French overseas territory. The Australian Antarctic Territory officially accepted the Dominion of Australia from the British Empire in 1936. A thick layer of ice covers the uninhabited area, which is permeated by snow-capped mountains and ranges. The harsh climate, with its bitter cold and bitter icy winds, allows life on the border with the Southern Ocean.
The emperor penguin is the largest of all penguins and the largest swimming bird in the world. Endemic to Antarctica, the species reaches an average height of 110-122 cm and a weight of 25-45 kg. Males and females do not differ in plumage or size. The distinctive yellow colouration in the ear region fades to white plumage on the abdomen and underside of the wings. The head, back and wings are black and give the impression of an elegant tuxedo. Penguins are flightless birds whose stiff and flattened wings act as flippers when diving for food. They can dive to depths of around 500 metres and last for 18 minutes without oxygen. Emperor penguins live in colonies and breed during the Arctic winter. They travel around 100 to 160 km on a waddling walk to their breeding grounds.

The face shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark with the initials "JC". The name "ELIZABETH II", the years of reign of the monarch "1952 - 2022", the name of the state "AUSTRALIA", the year of issue "2023" and the face value complete the portrait on the rim.

The coin has the status of Australian legal tender and comes in a collector's box. The mintage is extremely limited to 250 pieces for the entire world!

This product is part of the following product sets: