Few individuals are capable of speaking to the soul of a nation better than her artists. With the truly gifted possessing the ability to not only capture but harness the intangible, making it cry out through the generations and live on in the hearts and minds of those who hear it. The men and women often become known as the most beloved sons and daughters of a nation.
Henry Lawson
It is to exactly one such son that the Perth Mint is paying homage to in 2017 with the release of the 2017 Henry Lawson 150th Anniversary 5oz silver proof coin. This unique coin stands as a tribute to one of Australia's most renowned writers, on the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Australia 2017 5oz Silver Henry Lawson Coin Box
Henry Lawson is today regarded as one of Australia's greatest poets and short story writers from the colonial period. Born on 17 June 1867, his father was a gold miner and his mother a poet turned publisher and leading voice in the Australian suffrage movement. He has previously also appeared on the Australian $10 bank note(Pick #45) and on postage stamps.
Australia 2017 5oz Silver Henry Lawson Coin Reverse
The reverse of the coin features a uniquely colourized montage that makes use of several elements common to Henry Lawson's work. These include a cattleman, swagman, cattle dog, sheep, windmill, bush hut, water butt, tent and billycans near a stream, a bush fire and several other elements of the Australian bush. Together the images form a portrait resembling Lawson himself. The legend simply reads : “150TH ANNIVERSARY OF HENRY LAWSON”.
The obverse of the coin bears the standard, right facing, effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, as designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. The obverse legend is inscribed along the rim and reads : “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” along the top. Then to the bottom appears : “5oz 9999 Ag”, “2017” and “8 DOLLARS”.
Australia 2017 5oz Silver Henry Lawson Coin Obverse
The coin is truck from 5oz of pure .9999 Fineness silver and measures 60.6mm(2.385 inch) in diameter. The coin is denominated as Australian $8 and is shipped in a Perth Mint branded black clamshell presentation box, along with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Australia 2017 5oz Silver Henry Lawson Coin
With an extremely limited mintage of only 250 coins the Perth Mint is releasing these special anniversary 5oz silver coin for AUS$453.64(US$343) each.
