Common Wombat - 2007 1/10oz Proof Coin

The Common Wombat - 2007 1/10oz Proof Coin is part of the Historic Perth Mint's Discover Australia Program. This program of natural flora and fauna is scheduled for release between 2006 and 2008. The program comprises pure gold, silver and platinum proof coins depicting Australia's amazing fauna, landmarks and flora.

This coin's reverse depicts a Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus), an herbivorous marsupial native only to Australia. The Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is one of three species of wombat and the only one in the Vombatus genus. It is widespread in the cooler and better watered parts of southern and eastern Australia, and in mountain districts as far north as the south of Queensland, but is declining in Western Victoria and South Australia.

The Common Wombat can breed every two years and produce a single joey, which leaves the backwards facing pouch after nine to eleven months (weighing between 3.5 and 6.5 kilograms). The joey is weaned at around 12 to 15 months of age and is usually independent at 18 months of age. Extremely hard to spot in the wild, most live in damp, coastal regions of south-eastern Australia and in Tasmania. Covered in thick, coarse fur, they possess sharp claws and powerful limbs for digging long burrows in which they can survive cold temperatures and even bush fires.

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin depicts Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse. The year-date and The Perth Mint's traditional ‘P’ mintmark also appear in the design.

This 2007-dated coin is struck from 1/10oz of 99.99% pure gold in proof quality and is housed in a superb presentation case with a lid made from Australian jarrah timber. The case comes in a protective outer shipper featuring Discover Australia's distinctive logo.

Each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and the Perth Mint will release no more than 2,500 of these coins worldwide.

This is available as an individual coin or in a five coin set. The Common Wombat - 2007 1/10oz Proof Coin makes a delightful addition to any coin collection.