Summary

Alternate name(s): PNC (Philatelic Numismatic Cover)

1 Dollar coin, Australia, 2023 AD and $1.20 stamp, Australia, 2023 AD, in stamp and coin pack large First Day Cover, issued as part of 'Creatures Of The Deep' series.

Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra

Creatures of the Deep 2023 $1 Limited-Edition Large Philatelic Numismatic Cover (PNC) Coin and Stamp set with Australia Post 'Envelope' Privy Mark AlBr $1 coin Royal Australian Mint , foiled postmark and numbering, $1.20 stamp made by Australia Post. Stamp, envelope and coin were all made with assistance from CSIRO and Museums Victoria. Numbered 69 of 500.

The stamp features an image of a sea cucumber (Benthodytes) taken by Museums Victoria volunteer Asher Flatt, and the envelope features images of a smooth-head blobfish, monkey brittle star, threadfin dragonfish, king crab, and tripod fish taken by Museums Victoria photographer Robert Zugaro. The envelope also features images of a seastar, octopus, and brittle star taken by CSIRO photographer Karen Gowlett-Holmes.

The coin features the research vessel (RV) Investigator, the deep towed camera technology, as well as rarely seen deep sea creatures including gold coral (Chrysogorgia), brittle star (Ophiuroidea) and spiny king crab (Neolithodes flindersi). In the centre is a tiny envelope privy mark especially for this series.

The series celebrates the journeys of scientific endeavour, and the wondrous sea creatures discovered. Museums Victoria's scientists travelled on the RV Investigator lead by Tim O'Hara on 3 voyages - the Abyss voyage in 2017 and the Indian Ocean Territories voyages in 2021 and 2022.

The king crab design on the coin looks remarkably similar to a photograph taken by Museums Victoria photographer Robert Zugaro of Specimen J 72711 in 2022. The obverse shows the memorial portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the years of her reign using the 2019 portrait by British engraver Jody Clark.

A similar PNC was released earlier in 2023 with a limited print run of 7,500. It sold out almost immediately among coin and stamp collectors. The release featured a First Day of Issue 18 April, Canberra ACT 2601 postmark, a $1.20 stamp with an image of the RV Investigator at sea, a $1 'Creatures Of The Deep' coin with 'Envelope' Privy Mark, and drawings of deep sea animals based on photographs taken by Museums Victoria photographer Robert Zugaro (king crab, threadfin dragonfish, deep sea amphipod, monkey brittle star) as well as other images.

Physical Description

Dark coloured envelope with full colour stamp with image of human hands holding a sea cucumber in the top right hand corner and gold foil post mark and gold metal 1 Dollar coin on the left hand side of the front of the envelope. The reverse of the coin is visible on the front of the envelope. On the envelope are full colour images of sea creatures including: smooth-head blobfish, monkey brittle star, threadfin dragonfish, king crab, tripod fish, seastar, octopus, and brittle star. Numbered 69 of 500 on front. Reverse features logos of Australia Post, Museums Victoria and CSIRO

Obverse Description

Head of Elizabeth II. Around, ELIZABETH II 1952-2022 / AUSTRALIA 2023 / 1 DOLLAR. Artist's initials JC.

Reverse Description

The ship RV Investigator on top of the ocean with, below the water line, a deep tow camera on the left, brittle stars inside coral on the ocean floor at centre, and a king crab on the right. Across the centre right: CREATURES / OF / THE DEEP. Near the centre is envelope diagram privy mark.

More Information