2010 Burke & Wills Anniversary Silver Proof Coin

Burke and Wills are not well-known names in most of the world, but in Australia they are legendary heroes on par with America’s Lewis and Clark. This is because the two men were responsible for leading the first expedition of european settlers across the Australian continent from south to north.

To commemorate this triumphant, yet tragic 3,250 kilometer expedition, the Perth Mint has released the one-ounce Burke and Wills 150 Year Anniversary Silver Proof Coin.

Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills left Melbourne in 1860 accompanied by 17 other men, 23 horses, 26 camels and 6 wagons loaded with supplies (enough to last two years). Their goal was to traverse the Australian continent from the southern coastal city of Melbourne all the way north to the Gulf of Carpentaria, a 3000-plus kilometer trek never before done by european settlers.

When one of their wagons broke down before leaving the Royal Park where their send-off occurred, the realization of the difficulties that were ahead must have become painfully obvious to the group. This was only amplified when two more break-downs happened before the expedition had reached the edge of the city. In fact, in its first two months, the group had only managed to travel 750 kilometers, a distance the mail coach did in less than a week.

This slow-pace had an extremely demoralizing effect on the crew resulting in the loss of five officers, who resigned, as well as thirteen men who were fired. Burke was able to hire eight more men along the way to insure the expedition could continue.

At four months into their travels, they were still in territory that had already been explored by Europeans. Dissatisfied with their progress, Burke and Wills decided to split the party, feeling they could move faster without the complete contingent. Facing 120° Fahrenheit (50° C) days, the smaller force crossed the outback and came within five kilometers of the coast. Unfortunately, due to the coastal swamps, Burke and Wills had to turn back without ever having seen the ocean.

But fate would find that disappointment minor compared to the trials that still lied ahead. Making it back to the camp where they had left the rest of the men and supplies 18 weeks earlier, Burke and Wills discovered it abandoned. Digging up the supplies that were left buried for them, the small group decided to take a different route to civilization, but unable to carry enough water, they had to return to camp with the help of natives.

Local Aborigines continued to provide support for the recuperating men until Burke fired a shot at one of them. Now, with little supplies, the group was in dire straits. Suffering from malnutrition, Burke and Wills would both die within a month.

Burke & Wills Silver Coin Specifications

Celebrating this fateful journey, one ounce of 99.9 fine silver has been struck to a diameter of 40.60 mm and a thickness of 4 mm. As legal tender of Australia, Ian-Rank Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is found on the obverse with Burke and Wills immortalized on the reverse. The pair, shown understandably exhausted, are highlighted in front of a colorized camel and landscape.

The silver coin is limited to a maximum mintage of 7,500. Each comes in a black presentation case with a sheoak timber lid which ships in an illustrated shipper along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. The Burke and Wills coin can be purchased directly from the Perth Mint and from around the world for AUS $81.36.

Burke & Wills Coin Images

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint – the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.

In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.