NASA doesn’t want the dinosaurs fate to be our own. Melbourne Coins new issue showcases the DART tech designed to safeguard Earth

Scientist’s mutter the word ‘Chicxulub’ with a mixture of fear and awe. Some 66 million years ago, an asteroid, somewhere between 10-15 km in diameter, impacted our world in the Yucatan Peninsula, just off the coast of Mexico. Travelling at around 72,000 km/h, it hit with such force that it left a crater 150 km in diameter, lifting crustal rock so high, the crater had a rim of mountains higher than the Himalayas. The effect on Earth’s biosphere was catastrophic, and it was the death knell for not just the big dinosaurs, but as much as 75% of all life.

Scarily, this was not the first time an asteroid had impacted our planet, or even the worst, and while they’re rare, they’re quite regular as well. Not wanting to follow in the dinosaur’s footsteps, in 2021, NASA launched its DART mission. An acronym of Double Asteroid Redirection Test, its target was the 760 m diameter asteroid Didymos, specifically its 150 m diameter moonlet, Dimorphos. It hit, literally, what it was meant to do (a kinetic). It was an early test of how accurate this tech could be, and how effective.

Melbourne Coins have issued a coin to commemorate the test, in what is a very unique, five-ounce silver coin. The reverse face of the coin depicts the satellite closing in on its target, passing through an area of space busy with asteroids. It gives you some idea of the complexity of the NASA mission, and just how impressive its success was. We really like the stylistic nature of the imagery employed here, doing a fine job of suggesting velocity.

The obverse is completely different, juxtaposing our attempts to prevent a catastrophe, with one that had already wiped out the most successful group of animals that ever walked the Earth. Here, we see the impact of that asteroid on the planet, viewed from orbit, in the foreground, behind which is the sad sight of a giant impact, witnessed by a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a creature not used to fear, perhaps. There’s a well-chosen contrast between the coin’s two faces that works exceptionally well.

This is a good-sized coin at 60 mm in diameter, and utilising high-relief to good effect. It will come boxed, with a Certificate of Authenticity, and only 199 will ever be struck. Available to order from today, it should ship next month. A fascinating take on a popular subject, and a wake-up call on just how precarious our existence is. Top stuff.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE
$5 NZD (Niue) 155.5 g of 0.999 silver 60.0 mm Proof 199