Australia is a continent rich in history, cultural diversity and unique habitats. 

No geographic feature may be more spectacular than the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest living structure on the planet and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Two new Proof coins in the Perth Mint’s Land Down Under series celebrate the Great Barrier Reef. The 1-ounce .999 fine silver dollar and quarter-ounce .9999 fine gold $25 coin are the newest additions to the Land Down Under program, which will celebrate four themes with 10 coins overall. 

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, encompassing 344,000 square kilometers along the coast of Queensland in the country’s northeast, attracts more than 1.6 million visitors annually who swim, snorkel, dive, and sail in the thriving environment.

Featuring an array of coral and a variety of other marine creatures, from microscopic plankton to whales weighing more than 100 tons, the reef offers some of the most spectacular maritime scenery on Earth.

Both coins carry the inscriptions THE LAND DOWN UNDER and GREAT BARRIER REEF with the Perth Mint’s P Mint mark and the weight and fineness of the coin.

Designer Natasha Muhl designed the reverse of each coin.

The silver coin’s reverse depicts a colorful aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef, framed within the shape of Australia with a seaplane flying overhead.

The gold coin’s reverse depicts a green sea turtle swimming among coral. 

The obverse of both coins features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the denomination and 2014.

The silver coin, which measures 40.6 millimeters in diameter, has a mintage limit of 5,000 pieces. The gold coin, which measures 20.6 millimeters in diameter, is limited to a mintage of 1,000 coins. 

Previous releases in the series include Gold Rush coins of the same specifications as the new Great Barrier Reef coins, and Proof Great Barrier Reef 5-ounce silver and 2-ounce gold coins. 

The final two themes for the program, also be offered as 1-ounce silver and quarter-ounce gold coins, are the Australian Stockman and Rock Fishing.

Each coin is housed in an Australian map-shaped latex case with a stylized shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity.

The silver coin retails from the Perth Mint for $99 in Australian funds and the gold coin is priced at $695 Australian.

To order from Perth Mint, visit its website. 

Distributor Talisman Coins offers the silver coin to collectors in North America for $79.95 in U.S. funds, and the gold coin is priced at $529.95 U.S.

To order from Talisman, visit the firm’s website or telephone the firm toll free at 888-552-2646.