Product Description
- Nocturnal issue of the Great Southern Land series
- 1 ounce of 999.9 pure silver
- Proof quality
- Insert of genuine matrix opal in the shape of the Australian continent
- Limited mintage of only 5,000 pieces worldwide
- With numbered certificate of authenticity from The Perth Mint
- Delivered in the original case
The Great Southern Land Nocturnal Matrix Opal issue from The Perth Mint sets a genuine opal into the shape of the Australian continent and surrounds it with the animals that appear only after sunset, which speaks to discerning collectors and value-oriented investors alike.
Product Details
Fine silver and genuine opal in one piece
Struck from one ounce of 999.9 silver, the coin carries 31.1 grams of pure precious metal. Proof quality ranks among the most demanding standards in collector coin production and remains reserved for issues in which every stage of the work is aimed at perfection.
At the centre sits an insert of genuine matrix opal whose outline follows the Australian continent. Because this material varies naturally in colour and pattern, no example resembles another. The coin is delivered in its original case, accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity from The Perth Mint that documents origin and limited mintage.
Motif and Design
A continent of opal, framed by the night
The reverse carries the matrix opal as a continental shape at its centre. Framing this inlay are richly detailed depictions of nocturnal Australian animals. Among them are an Australian tiger moth, a nightjar, a Christmas beetle, a marbled gecko, a spotted-tailed quoll, a night parrot, a Leadbeater’s possum, a koala, and a ghost bat.
Above the scene stand a waxing moon and stars, while Australian plant motifs set quiet accents in between. The P mintmark of The Perth Mint points to the origin, and the year of issue 2026 along with the details of weight and fineness are integrated into the design as well.
The obverse shows the effigy of King Charles III designed by Dan Thorne, together with the inscription AUSTRALIA and the face value of 1 dollar. In this way, sovereign authority joins the narrative abundance of this silver coin’s reverse.
Historical and Cultural Background
The hidden side of the Great Southern Land
Australia, often referred to as the Great Southern Land, is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its unique landscapes. Many of the animal species native there are endemic and occur exclusively on the Australian continent. Numerous species withdraw during the day and become active only after nightfall.
Exactly this hidden side is what the Nocturnal issue takes up. Instead of the familiar daytime faces of the continent, it gathers those inhabitants that find their way in the half-light, from the silent flight of the ghost bat to the night parrot, long regarded as almost impossible to find.
The shimmering matrix opal ties this narrative to the ground of the country itself. Colour and pattern form within the stone over geological periods, and so every coin carries a piece of Australian nature that cannot be repeated.
Exclusivity and Investment Value
Strictly limited to 5,000 pieces
Only 5,000 pieces of this issue in proof quality are released worldwide. Issues with a genuine stone insert appeal not only to classic coin collectors but also to admirers of unusual materials, so demand is fed from several directions.
The foundation is the material value of one ounce of 999.9 silver, to which the collector premium of a strictly limited issue is added. Since each inlay turns out differently, such pieces often develop their own dynamics on the secondary market, because buyers look specifically for a particular play of colour.
Secure one of the few examples of this strictly limited coin before it sells out.