Downies striking Australia at Night series of black proof silver coins continues with the Echidna

The third of Downies ‘Australia at night’ coins is available from today and is another attractive entrant in this striking series. Finished as a ‘Black proof’, it’s surprising how effective something as simple as a strong monochromatic contrast can be on a coin. Each of the issues in this series are simple 1oz proof silver coins in which everything except the animal is finished in black.

Of course, that wouldn’t be enough to make a fine looking coin, but this series also benefits from some quite superb artwork. The first issue featured that weirdest of Australian animals (and it has some serious competition!), the Platypus, and that was followed up by the iconic Kangaroo. Third time out is the Echidna, another of those highly unusual egg-laying mammals. Despite also being known as ‘spiny anteaters’, they are not tightly related to the true anteaters of the New World.

The depiction is beautiful and it’s hard to picture a better effort. Boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, just 1,000 of these will be minted. This is turning into a particularly impressive series, helped along by Australia’s eclectic fauna. We sincerely hope that the current bushfire’s on the continent can be brought under control so that the people and wildlife of this amazing country can be protected from further harm. Our respect to the Emergency Services there who are doing an incredibly difficult job with bravery.