Early Governors of Australia Silver Proof Collection

The Perth Mint is about to launch the Early Governors of Australia Silver Proof Collection This is a collection of 5 one ounce silver proof coins, each depicting one of the early Governors of Australia.

This excellent five-coin collection pays tribute to Australia’s first five Governors - Arthur Phillip, John Hunter, Philip Gidley King, William Bligh and Lachlan Macquarie – whose leadership helped lay vital foundations for the future nation.

According to the Mint, "Each 2008-dated coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality. The reverse of each silver coin portrays a Governor and a convict chain, which are struck in high relief. Each reverse includes a colored illustration of a symbolic moment in the Governor’s tenure."

Arthur Phillip (1788-1792)
Australia’s first Governor, Phillip commanded the First Fleet which entered Botany Bay before moving north to a permanent settlement in Port Jackson. The colored reverse illustration depicts the Union flag being raised at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788.

John Hunter (1795-1800)
Improving life in the colony, Hunter developed democracy, enhanced the legal system, created a civilian police force and supported Bass and Flinders’ explorations. The colored reverse illustration symbolizes his reform of the management of convict labor.

Philip Gidley King (1800-1806)
Among his achievements, King brought order to the chaotic currency system. The colored reverse illustration depicts his famous Proclamation, posted on the Government store in 1800, providing relative values for the mix of foreign coins in the colony.

William Bligh (1806-1808)
The former captain of HMS Bounty, Bligh’s attempts to limit the power of the corrupt NSW Corps ended in personal disaster. The colored reverse illustration depicts the ‘Rum Rebellion’ of 1808 and his reputed effort to escape arrest by hiding under a bed.

Lachlan Macquarie (1810-1821)
The founder of Australia’s first bank and the mastermind of its first official coinage, Macquarie is considered a national icon. The colored reverse illustration includes an image of the Holey Dollar and Dump, created by punching the centre out of Spanish silver dollars.

Specifications of the coins are:

Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
Struck in High Relief
colored Reverse Illustrations
Issued as Legal Tender
Presentation Case and Booklet
Free Print of Old Sydney
Extremely Limited Mintage
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
Cost: AUS $399.00
Code No.: 08K75ZAA
High Relief Reverse
Extremely Limited Mintage
Just 1,808 of these collections will be released.
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
Each collection is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The Perth mint are offering a PRE-RELEASE opportunity.

The product availability date is 22 November 2007, but the Perth Mint are accepting orders for the Early Governors of Australia Silver Proof Collection. The Coins will not be shopped, however, until the 22nd November or thereabouts.

Each coin, which is issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu, depicts the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

The collection is housed in a leather-look book-style timber case accompanied by an 8-page historical booklet providing information on each Governor.
Free Print of Old Sydney

The collection comes with a bonus poster reproducing an image of old Sydney by Major Taylor (48 Regt.) and engraved by R. Havell & Sons in 1823. Measuring 404mm by 300mm, the free colored poster is valued at $29.00. (Please note that this poster is folded for delivery.)

To ensure you get your issue of the Early Governors of Australia Silver Proof Collection it would pay to order as soon as possible!