Perth Mint has been releasing another stunning coins celebrating five fascinating reef dwellers from the amazing Australia sea life coin series. The first coin is the Lionfish coin. The future releases in this series depict a Leafy Sea Dragon (November 2009), Clownfish (January 2010), Seahorse (March 2010) and Moray Eel (May 2010). The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1/2oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.
A Lionfish is any of several species of venomous marine fish in the genera Pterois, Parapterois, Brachypterois, Ebosia or Dendrochirus, of the family Scorpaenidae. The lionfish is also known as the Turkey Fish, Dragon Fish, Scorpion or Fire Fish. They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance, red, green, navy green, brown, orange, yellow, black, maroon, or white. Australian waters host some of the most famous reef systems in the world. From spectacular tropical corals to towering forests of kelp, these dynamic environments are teeming with aquatic life.
The lionfish is one of the most venomous fish on the ocean floor. Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that are used purely for defense. When threatened, the fish often faces its attacker in an upside down posture which brings its spines to bear. However, a lionfish's sting is usually not fatal to humans. If a human is envenomed, that person will experience extreme pain, and possibly headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. A common treatment is soaking the afflicted area in hot water, as very few hospitals carry specific treatments. However, immediate emergency medical treatment is still advised, as some people are more susceptible to the venom than others.
Reverse: The coin’s reverse portrays a Lionfish in colour. Covered in red to black bands, the Lionfish has very long pectoral and dorsal fins. The dorsal fin comprises an array of extremely venomous spines, which are used for protection against predators. Growing to around 35cm in length, the Lionfish can be found in tropical waters around the west, north and east coasts of Australia. The coin’s reverse also incorporates The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mint mark.
Obverse: Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the 2009 year-date on the obverse.Technical Specifications:
Silver Content (Troy oz) 0.5
Monetary Denomination (AUD) 0.50
Fineness (% purity) 99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g) 15.573
Maximum Diameter (mm) 36.6
Maximum Thickness (mm) 2.3
This coin is not available online and no more than 10,000 Lionfish coins will be released by The Perth Mint. Each coin is housed in a presentation case which comes in a colourfully illustrated box-shipper. When lined-up in release order, the shipper illustrations form a linked image depicting all five reef creatures. Each coin also accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
