Niue 2022 Australia's Iconic KOALA—Mother & Baby Joey $1 Troy Oz Pure Silver Prf

Description: In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment! SOLD OUT at the Mint! This pure silver dollar features a cute and cuddly mother koala bear high in an eucalyptus tree, with her baby joey clinging to her back. This gorgeous, truly rare (mintage just 750), one full troy ounce frosted cameo proof is intricately engraved to produce a remarkable and naturalistic wildlife portrait from the Land Down Under. The koala bear is one of the iconic symbols of Australia, and arguably its most popular and best-known native animal. Despite its appearance, the koala bear isn't really a bear at all, but rather a marsupial. Nonetheless it fascinates us because it's so darn cute—it looks like a living teddy bear! Appearances can be deceiving here, too, because koalas aren't cuddly, either. They are arboreal (tree-dwelling), so they have very strong, sharp claws for climbing (and their bite can cause injury, as well). A Stunningly Realistic Design The naturalistic design captures the Koala’s unique features, as well as the heartwarming bond between the mama koala and her baby! The joey clings to its mother’s back high in their native habitat, an eucalyptus tree. The detailed, close-up portrait captures the cuteness that has endeared the koala since first discovered. The koalas have been so meticulously engraved that individual hairs on both the mother and baby can be discerned. Australia's Definitive Marsupial Koala bears live nearly their entire lives in the eucalyptus (gum) tree, where they feed almost exclusively on its leaves. They have a very low metabolism for a mammal, so they spend up to 20 hours a day resting and sleeping (and the rest mostly eating). Eucalypt leaves are high in toxic chemicals such as phenols and terpenes, which only the koala has adapted to deal with—the toxins are neutralized in its specialized liver. Marsupials are unusual, and, many scientists believe, more primitive, mammals. Their best-known characteristic is the pouch for their young, and the koala is no exception. The babies, called joeys, are only a quarter-inch long when born, and enter the world hairless, blind and earless, so the safety of mother koala's pouch is a necessity for its first six months of life. For its second half-year the joey will generally ride on mom's back. Koala Fun Facts You'd think that it couldn't get any more odd than a living stuffed animal that spends its entire life in, and only eats the leaves of, one kind of tree. If so, you'd be wrong—koalas are among Nature's most unusual and unique creatures. Here's a couple of other oddities about these fascinating fur balls. Koalas are often thought to be silent, and they are most of the time, but males have a very loud mating call that can be heard for a distance of up to one kilometer away during the breeding season! When attacked, koalas may issue a loud cry, which is often likened to that of a human baby. The koala bear is one of the few mammals (other than primates) that has fingerprints. Koala fingerprints are remarkably similar to human fingerprints—even when viewed with an electron microscope, it can be quite difficult for an expert to distinguish between the two! Obverse An up-close portrait of a mother koala high in an eucalyptus tree, with her baby joey clinging to her back. Meticulously and realistically rendered, the engraving is so detailed that individual hairs of the bears can be discerned. The legend KOALA indicates the theme. Reverse Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II, the date of issue and denomination also appear, while the legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside a luxurious clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and satin, and protected by a full color outer cardboard box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. The image of the back side of the certificate is a mint-supplied image intended for general reference only. The serial number in the image is NOT indicative of the serial number you will receive! Specifications Country Niue Year of Issue 2022 Face Value One Dollar Weight 31.135 g Diameter 38.60 mm Mintage Limit 750 Finish Proof Composition .999 Fine (Pure) Silver Edge Reeded (milled, serrated) Artist Ian Rank Broadley (reverse) Certificate Individually Numbered Copyright © 2023 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.

Price: 109.95 USD

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri

End Time: 2024-02-28T03:40:55.000Z

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