World of Parrots adorned silver coin series debuts its fourth, the Pink & Grey Galah
The fourth coin in Downies World of Parrots series launches today and features the attractive Pink & Grey Galah. The first coin launched back in 2014 and there has been a single entrant every year since then. Previous coins have depicted the Crimson Rosella, the Rainbow Lorikeet, and the Scarlet Macaw, all with the same format and clearly forming a tightly-knit set.
The basic coin format is pretty standard, just a crown-sized, one-ounce sterling 0.925 silver round with selective colouring on the reverse face. The unusual twist with this is like Coin Invest Trust’s butterfly series, they have a mounted, plastic-type (possibly archival mylar or similar) ‘sculpture’ that extends the design from the coin face into a third dimension. It’s certainly effective, but obviously something you’ll either love or hate. The concept is popular enough for the CIT series to run for seven years and this one, also produced by CIT for Downies, to hit its fourth.
The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, no surprise as the coin is issued for Cook Islands and comes packaged in a snapper box with a themed certificate of authenticity carrying a serial number. All comes packaged in a brightly themed shipper box. The mintage is limited to 2,500 pieces and has a recommended price of $139.00 AUD. Well worth checking out for the bird-lover.
2017 WORLD OF PARROTS: PINK & GREY GALAH SILVER COIN
PINK AND GREY GALAH
The galah, also known as the rose-breasted cockatoo, or pink and grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia. It is endemic on the mainland and was introduced to Tasmania, where its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour make it a familiar sight in the bush and increasingly in urban areas. The term galah is derived from gilaa, a word found in Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages.
Galahs are about 35 cm long and weigh 270–350 g. They have a pale silver to mid-grey back, a pale grey rump, a pink face and chest, and a light pink mobile crest. They have a bone-coloured beak, and the bare skin of the eye rings is carunculated. They have grey legs. Galahs are absent only from the driest areas and the far north of Cape York Peninsula. They are common in some metropolitan areas, for example Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, and common to abundant in open habitats which offer at least some scattered trees for shelter. Flocks of galahs will often congregate and forage on foot for food in open grassy areas.
The galah nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually two or five in a clutch. The eggs are incubated for about 25 days, and both the male and female share the incubation. The chicks leave the nest about 49 days after hatching. Living in captivity galahs can reach up to 70 to 80 years of age when a good quality diet is strictly followed. The galah socialises adequately and can engage playfully in entertainment activities to support the overall very intelligent nature of the bird. In their natural habitat the galah is unlikely to reach the age of 20 years. The average lifespan of all galahs is about 40 years of age.Like most other cockatoos, galahs create strong lifelong bonds with their partners. Source: Wikipedia
SPECIFICATION
| NAME | 2017 WORLD OF PARROTS |
| DENOMINATION | $5 Cook Islands |
| COMPOSITION | 0.925 silver |
| WEIGHT | 20.0 grams |
| DIAMETER | 38.61 mm |
| FINISH | Proof |
| MODIFICATIONS | Bird-shaped adornment |
| MINTAGE | 2,500 |
| BOX / COA | Yes / Yes |
I would have been over the moon about this set of coins if weren’t for there being “colorized”—or what ever the term is. As with stamps, even if the issue is almost certainly never to be employed as a stamp, I insist that they at least must resemble genuine postage. I am VERY sorry, to say that IMO these are both cheap and gaudy in appearance, and simply do resemble actual coinage.