Australia Zoo series takes a detour from the usual crocodile silver coin into cuddly with Archie the Dingo

For a few years now the Royal Australian Mint has been releasing blister mounted silver coins. Positioned halfway between bullion coins and fully proof finish coins, they’ve been featuring some of the awesome crocodiles that populate Australia Zoo. Made famous by its association with Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo has put its name to these animal themed coins and they seem to have been very popular as a result.

While the Royal Australian Mint and Aussie dealer Downies sell a portion of the mintage within Australia, in this case 3,000 coins, the bulk of them are sold worldwide by large German dealer EMK coins. That remains the case with this new 2017 coin. Struck in an ounce of fine silver to a frosted uncirculated finish, apart from the change of species, the design follows that used previously very closely. A picture of Archie sitting on the ground fills the reverse face. The obverse is home to the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, as you’d expect with an Australian issued coin.

Like the crocodile coins, this one is mounted to a colourful card, obviously not as solid and high-quality as a proper box, but a great way to display the coin and a nice gift item. With only 500 coins being sold within Australia, it comes as no surprise that the RAM has sold out, with Downies now the only option for buyers there. EMK have plenty of stock as the primary outlet for the coin. Available now.

Archie, along with his two sisters Eve and Jira was shown to the public at Australia Zoo on 01 October last year, but being born with rare white fur, he quickly became a favourite. He is a dingo, an Australian wild dog and the largest terrestrial predator on the continent. Living in habitats ranging from deserts and grasslands right up to the forest edge, it’s generally believed they’re descended from semi-domesticated dogs from East or South Asia.