The Royal Australian Mint has released the second coin within their “Southern Sky” series. These coins feature constellations visible in the southern hemisphere presented on color printed domed coins.
The latest coin features the Pavo constellation, first described by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius and most visible in the southern sky during August. Its name is Latin for peacock.
The constellation is depicted on the concave surface of the reverse of the coin, with an iridescent colored background of blue and green to accentuate the night sky. A compass themed border surrounds the design, carrying navigational markers and coordinates where a viewer can observe the constellation.
The convex surface of the obverse of the coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, along with the legal tender face value and date of issue.
Each coin is struck in 1 troy ounce of 99.9% fine silver to proof quality. The diameter is 39.62 mm, and the mintage limited to 10,000 pieces. The coins are offered for sale in the Royal Australian Mint’s eShop with the product page located here and can also be found available from many world coin dealers.
This dome shaped coin series seems to have caught the attention of many collectors, especially in light of next year’s United States Mint commemorative coin program honoring the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Under the authorizing legislation, it was the sense of the Congress that the gold and silver coins included in the program should be minted with a convex/concave shape to accentuate the obverse design carrying a depiction of a baseball. The US Mint has since confirmed that all three coins included in the program will be convex/concave.
Stuart says
As an astronomer, I’ve ordered mine. If you’re outside Australia, shipping can be expensive, so I ended up ordering from a third party that I’ve had good experience with in the past. I’m usually not big on colored coins, but, as an astronomer …
VABEACHBUM says
@ Stuart – I placed my order for the Pavo Coin shortly after it was announced. I hope you also had the opportunity to pick up the first coin in this series, the “2012 Crux,” which is a fine coin in its own right. If not, you still can find OGP examples with reasonable pricing.
As for 3rd party sources, I have had great luck acquiring many of the Aussie coins through Euro Collections ( http://www.eurocollections.com ), the US subsidiary of Downies. Pricing is on track with the respective Mints, and shipping to US addresses usually is $5 – $10.
BTW – LOVE THE LOGO!!
fmtransmitter says
It is ABOUT DARM TIME the US Mint caught up with the rest of the World in Modern Numismatics…
fmtransmitter says
*DARN (spelling) (slang)…Sorry..:)~
fmtransmitter says
Check out the Dr. Who 50th 1 OZ silver inside a Police Call Box from the Perth Mint…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBmr3J-iI8Y&feature=em-subs_digest
Stuart says
@Vabeachbum – Yup, I got Crux last year. And yup, I used Euro Collections this year for Pavo.
Dan says
I am surprised that there is not a bigger following of australian releases. Some of these coins have a relatively small mintage and yet there does not seem to be that great a demand. I have the southern crux also and absolutely love the coin and had the intention to purchase this one until I saw it being hawked on one of the TV shows the othere day. Whenever i see something on a show, I cringe!!!!!
Does anyone know of an equivalent mint news blog just for Australian releases or Australian coins in general? Thanks
Wes says
I don’t know except Perth mint blog but is not like this one. It is run by the Perth mint. It’s found on the Perth mint website.
Wes says
Anyone like the John F Kennedy coins that commemorate the 50th anniversary of his visit to Ireland? They are from the Irish central bank? I was thinking about purchasing one but with silver down I thought the price of 50 euros for silver coin or 130 euros for set was a little to much. Silver coin is less than one full ounce and the gold coin in the set is only 1 gram. That is tiny.
Schalk says
Michael,
The new Britannia Proofs for 2013 are available! Including a 5 oz proof from the Royal Mint.
fmtransmitter says
I just picked up a PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO HIGH RELIEF EARLY RELEASE 2013 Kookaburra for under $100 shipped. I thought I got a more than deal considering this is a mintage of only 10,000. Love World Mint LOW MINTAGE coins.
fmtransmitter says
*fair
Samuel says
fm, where did u get it?
fmtransmitter says
@Samuel: I actually got this one online auction..
fmtransmitter says
Found some interesting information regarding the US Mint consulting the Perth Mint about the concave/convex coins of the future. Thought I would share:
Curved coins a first for United States Mint!
The National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative $5 gold, $1 silver and one-half dollar clad coins will have a shape such that the obverse is concave and the reverse is convex.. While these will be the first curved coins ever minted by the United States Mint, it did produce the curved 1973 Roberto Walker Clemente Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the late Pittsburgh Pirates star right fielder.
The National Baseball Commemorative Coin Act refers specifically to the convex/concave 2009 International Year of Astronomy Coins minted and issued by the Monnaie de Paris (French Mint). The United States Mint’s National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative $5 gold, the $1 silver and one-half dollar clad coins will also be closely modeled after the Royal Australian Mint’s Southern Cross curved coins.
Research and development on the curved National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins was unprecedented in recent United States Mint history. It covered height of relief limitations; milling, turning and grinding operations; coinability issues; laser frosting and proof polishing; and proof, uncirculated and clad test strikes.
During the planning phase for the minting and production of its first-ever curved coins, the Royal Australian and Perth Mints provided valuable technical insight to the United States Mint.
Brent says
The southern sky series caught my eye with the 2012 crux, and the 2013 pavo is a another great offering by Perth. I have always been a fan of the world coin types since I was a kid, and after a 15 year hiatus from coin collecting to my re-entering the hobby, the products from the foreign mints is astounding. I’m glad this site is here to keep somewhat of a heads up on the world mints and their products. By the way Samuel, paradise mint’s coin auction site has the 2013 kookaburras PF70 for auction. They usually go for less than $100-110. I’ve used paradise many times and I haven’t been disappointed yet.
aussiedom says
Brent,
To set the record straight only the Royal Australian Mint developed and produces the two full colour printed curved silver proof coins, Southern Sky – Crux and Pavo.
Cheers
Brent says
@aussiedom. thanks for the correction. an impressive series and I am looking forward to rest of the series. Any idea on how long the series will go on?
Eddie says
How many are going to be in this series? Anyone know?
Jeff says
Wow. Now that is almost a sound rationalization to collect, rather than “stack”. Almost. Beautiful coin.
nick says
btw, I emailed the mint. there are to be 3 coins in total. next years 2014 will conclude the series