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 20th 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
