2013 Australian Bush Baby Possum Silver Coin Released

Presented by the Perth Mint of Australia as the second of five releases issued under the Australian Bush Babies II series is the 2013 Bush Baby Possum Silver Coin.

This coin is struck from one-half ounce of .999 fine silver to proof quality and is available now for ordering directly from the Perth Mint. Maximum mintage of the strike is listed at 10,000.

Appearing before the Possum silver coin was the Bush Baby Kookaburra Silver Coin. It made its debut in July and showcased the image of the young kookaburra bird. Three more coins are scheduled to appear in t
he Australian Bush Babies II series. These coins will depict a baby platypus, echidna and wombat.

The series follows the successful release of the original Bush Babies program. Of the five that were issued as part of the first program, four would quickly sell-out. The five creatures depicted then included the kangaroo, dingo, sugar glider, bilby and koala.

Coins from both series depict creatures native to Australia. The possum is a small to medium-sized marsupial that typically nests high up in the trees. It is generally active at night and prefers to sleep during the day.

Possum Silver Coin Designs and Specifications

With a reverse depicting a baby possum, the marsupial is colored to represent its true-life hues. To the right of the possum, a friendly Australian insect is found along with delicately frosted Australian bush flowers.

The reverse of the Possum silver coin also includes the inscription of "Australian possum." This design is the work of Perth Mint artist Elise Martinson.

Struck as legal tender of Australia under the Australian Currency Act of 1965, the obverse contains Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Obverse inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA," "1/2 oz 999 SILVER," "2013" and the face value of "50 CENTS."

Each Possum silver coin features a maximum diameter of 36.60 mm with a maximum thickness of 2.30 mm and a minimum gross weight of 15.591 grams. The Perth Mint places the coins in a display box with a numbered certificate of authenticity and ships them inside an illustrated shipper.

A special five-coin display box is also available from the Perth. This box will hold the illustrated shippers of the five coins of the program.

Those interested in purchasing a Bush Baby Possum Silver Coin may do so directly from the Perth Mint. Pricing is currently listed at AUD $59.00.

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About the Perth Mint

The Royal Mint of England originally opened the Perth Mint of Australia (www.perthmint.com.au) in 1899 as a branch of the London facility. Its original purpose was to refine gold from nearby deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and mint gold sovereigns from it.

It continued in operation as a branch of the Royal Mint until ownership was transferred to the State Government of Western Australia in 1970. Today, the Perth is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program in addition to producing some of the world’s most unique collectible coins.