2006 P GOLD AUSTRALIA $50 COIN NGC PROOF 70 ULTRA CAMEO DISCOVERY SERIES EMU ONLY 446 MINTED

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952-PRESENT)

DISCOVER AUSTRALIA SERIES - AUSTRALIAN FAUNA - THE EMU

GOLD $50 COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 70 ULTRA CAMEO

ONLY 446 MINTED!

OBV: ELIZABETH II PORTRAIT HEAD WITH TIARA RIGHT; DENOMINATION BENEATH.

REV: EMU WALKING THROUGH SCRUB GRASS; DATE LEFT.

KM# 958

THE EMU (DROMAIUS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE) IS THE LARGEST BIRD IN HEIGHT AFTER THE OSTRICH, AND THE LARGEST BIRD IN ITS NATIVE AUSTRALIA, WHERE ITS RANGE COVERS MOST OF THE MAINLAND. THEY CAN REACH SIZES UP TO 6.2 FEET IN HEIGHT.

ALTHOUGH USED AS A FOOD SOURCE BY EARLY EUROPEAN SETTLERS, THEY WERE CONSIDERED A NUISSANCE TO CROPS BY THE EARLY 20^th CENTURY, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DROUGHT. IN 1932, A MILITARY MANAGEMENT OPERATION TO CURB THE EMU POPULATION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA EMPLOYED THE USE OF MACHINE GUNS TO KILL THE BIRDS. THE INCIDENT WAS CALLED “THE GREAT EMU WAR” BY THE MEDIA.

THE FLIGHTLESS EMU IS AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL ICON OF AUSTRALIA. THE EMU ALSO FIGURES PROMINENTLY THROUGHOUT ABORIGINAL MYTHS AND LEGENDS. UNOFFICIALLY IT IS THE POPULAR NATIONAL BIRD OF AUSTRALIA, AND IS ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HERALDIC ARMS.  

TODAY THE EMU THRIVES, AND IS NOT CONSIDERED ECOLOGICALLY “AT RISK” OR “ENDANGERED”.

CONTAINS 15.5 GRAMS OF .999 FINE GOLD (.5 OZ AGW)

25 mm IN DIAMETER

ONLY 446 MINTED!

PERTH MINT