Obverse. Photo © Royal Australian Mint
  • 1 Dollar 2022, Australia, Elizabeth II, The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3, E - Echidna
  • 1 Dollar 2022, Australia, Elizabeth II, The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3, E - Echidna
Description

In 2019 - following the great success of the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom with the 10 pence A to Z Collection - the Royal Australian Mint (RAM), in collaboration with Australia Post, started a similar campaign, The Great Aussie Coin Hunt. A series of 26 $1 coins feature each letter of the English alphabet and an Australian symbol starting with that letter. In 2021 RAM has released the second series of The Great Aussie Coin Hunt featuring another 26 classic Aussie icons.

This is the third Great Aussie Coin Hunt. The Royal Australian Mint undertook market research with independent research agencies to determine the themes and designs for the 26 Australian coins, featuring an Aussie icon for each letter of the alphabet. There are famous flora and fauna such as C for Cockatoo and W for Wattle; impressive natural wonders such as U for Undara Lava Tubes and P for Pinnacles; and even something for your sweet tooth such as V for Vanilla Slice.

Obverse

6th crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right (the Commonwealth effigy), wearing the George IV State Diadem, the Coronation Necklace and Earrings.

The portrait by Jody Clark with the shoulders has been made for use on the coins of the Crown dependencies, British Overseas Territories and countries of the Commonwealth. The Jody Clark portrait without the shoulders (UK 5th portrait) is for exclusive use on coins of the United Kingdom.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

The Coronation Necklace was Made for Queen Victoria in 1858 by Garrard & Co., it is 38 cm (15 in) long and consists of 25 cushion diamonds and the 22-carat (4.4 g) Lahore Diamond as a pendant. It has been used together with the Coronation Earrings by queens regnant and consort at every coronation since 1901.

Designer: Jody Clark

ELIZABETH II • AUSTRALIA 2022
JC

Reverse

Depicts an echidna with its tongue out catching ants.

Echidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals). The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the true anteaters of the Americas, which (along with sloths and armadillos) are xenarthrans. Echidnas live in Australia and New Guinea.

Echidnas evolved between 20 and 50 million years ago, descending from a platypus-like monotreme. This ancestor was aquatic, but echidnas adapted to life on land.

Designer: Aaron Baggio

1 DOLLAR
E
ECHIDNA

Edge

7 shorter smooth segments between 7 reeded segments (11 grooves each)

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 9 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness 2.5 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Australian Mint (RAM)

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