Summary

Australia West Australia
Ounce Pride of Australia 1988
Bicentennial Proof Issue
Mint: Perth Mint

A one ounce gold coin of One Hundred Dollar denomination in a wooden case. The coin was part of a Perth Mint series featuring important Australian gold nuggets, in this case the Pride of Australia. This nugget was stolen from display at the Museum of Victoria and is feared destroyed. This coin was in the same display case but was not taken. The fine powder inside the wooden case is from police fingerprinting after the robbery.

Physical Description

A proof gold one hundred dollar coin containing one ounce of pure gold and featuring the gold nugget called "Pride of Australia". The obverse features a crowned head of the Queen facing right wearing crown, pearl earring and neckless. Around, ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 100 DOLLARS. The artist's initials RDM (Raphael Macklouf) are incuse on the neck truncation. The reverse depicts the large gold nugget 'Pride of Australia' within a radiate circle of beads, below, PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA 1981; around, THE AUSTRALIAN NUGGET 1 OZ 999.9 GOLD 1988. The coin is held in a screw top hard plastic capsule which fits into a wooden (Jarrah) case with a sliding base and cork and felt insert. The top of the case has the words: THE AUSTRALIAN NUGGET BICENTENNIAL PROOF ISSUE printed in gold. The wooden case is stored in a cardboard slip bearing the same wording with a certificate of authentication. Traces of light grey powder are across the lower half of the case, the felt and the plastic container from the fingerprint dusting.

Obverse Description

A crowned head of the Queen facing right wearing crown, pearl earring and necklace; around, ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 100 DOLLARS. The artist's initials RDM (Raphael Macklouf) are incuse on the neck truncation.

Reverse Description

At centre, the large gold nugget 'Pride of Australia' within a radiate circle of beads, below, PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA 1981; around, THE AUSTRALIAN NUGGET 1 OZ 999.9 GOLD 1988.

Edge Description

Milled

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