COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952-PRESENT)
THE LAND DOWN UNDER SERIES – THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
$200 GOLD 2 OUNCE SPECIAL EDITION COIN
CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
ONLY 200 MINTED!
OBV: PORTRAIT HEAD OF ELIZABETH II WEARING TIARA RIGHT; DENOMINATION BENEATH.
REV: GREEN SEA TURTLE SWIMMING LEFT AMID CORAL.
KM # 2181
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CORAL REEF SYSTEM, BUILT UP BY TINY ORGANISMS KNOWN AS CORAL POLYPS. IT IS NOT A SINGLE REEF, BUT OVER 2,900 INDIVIDUAL REEFS AND 900 ISLANDS. IT STRETCHES OVER 1,400 MILES AND COVERS AROUND 133,000 SQUARE MILES. THE REEF IS LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA IN THE CORAL SEA.
ONE OF THE SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD, THE GREAT BARRIER REEF CAN BE SEEN FROM OUTER SPACE. IT IS THE LARGEST STRUCTURE MADE BY LIVING ORGANISMS.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF SUPPORTS A WIDE DIVERSITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING 30 SPECIES OF CETACEANS, OVER 1500 SPECIES OF FISH, 17 SPECIES OF SEA SNAKES, SIX SPECIES OF SEA TURTLES, 5,OOO SPECIES OF MOLLUSC, AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER FORMS OF LIFE. THE REEF SYSTEM IS KNOWN FOR ITS GREAT BEAUTY AND STUNNINGLY VIBRANT COLORS.
OIL SPILLS, TROPICAL CYCLONES, POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE PREDATORY CROWN OF THORNS STARFISH ARE THE GREATEST THREATS TO THE REEF SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES. ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY, THE REEF HAS LOST ALMOST HALF OF ITS CORAL COVER SINCE 1985. ADDITIONALLY, AMONG THE DIVERSE SPECIES OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, MANY ARE CONSIDERED VULNERABLE AND ENDANGERED. A LARGE PART OF THE REEF IS PROTECTED BY THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK, TO LIMIT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HUMAN USE.
THE GREEN SEA TURTLE FEATURED ON THIS MAGNIFICENT COIN, IS LISTED AS ENDANGERED, AND IS PROTECTED FROM EXPLOITATION IN MOST COUNTRIES. ITS HATCHERIES ARE PROTECTED BY LAW AS WELL.
IT’S FLATTENED BODY IS COVERED BY A LARGE OLIVE TO BLACK COLORED TEAR-DROP SHAPED CARAPACE. THE NAME REFERS TO GREEN FAT WHICH IS FOUND BENEATH THE CARAPACE. THE GREEN SEA TURTLE MAY LIVE UP TO 80 YEARS IN THE WILD.
CONTAINS 62.2 GRAMS OF 999 FINE GOLD (2 OZS AGW)
41.1 mm IN DIAMETER
PERTH MINT
DESIGNER: NATASHA MUHL
