This year we write the final chapter in the Dreaming Series of the Perth Mint’s prestigious 3-year Discover Australia coin program, depicting iconic aspects of Australian wildlife, landscape and culture. The first series of coins were released in 2009, the second series in 2010, and this new series for 2011 has just been announced! This beautiful series of coins are comprised of pure gold, silver and platinum proof coins depicting unique interpretations of 15 different Australian animals, 5 different creatures per year.

There is huge international interest in Australian Indigenous art, which is hotter than hot. Created through the millennia on rocks, on bark, on canvas and in sculpture, the oldest ongoing artistic tradition in the world stretches back tens of thousands of years.  The coins of the Discover Australia - The Dreaming Program represent the perfect marriage of precious metals and modern technology with native Australian, aboriginal designs. Each is an original and investment-caliber work of fine art.

Five Animals from Down Under
The Discover Australia - The Dreaming Series highlights five different indigenous Australian animals each year, each depicted in a  special style. The five animals for 2011 are the:
    • Dingo (Native Dog)
    • Emu (Flightless Bird)
    • Kookaburra
    • Great White Shark, and
    • Tasmanian Devil


Three Metals
Each of the Discover Australia animals is available in proof coins minted of three different metals:
    • Silver (one ounce)
    • Gold (1/25, 1/10 and 1/2 ounce), and
    • Platinum (1/10 and 1/2 ounce)

The silver coins are one ounce, with color to enhance the design, and feature the animals in active, dynamic pursuits. The gold coins are available in three different sizes, and feature more tranquil and relaxed scenes. Each of the 1/2 ounce gold proofs is truly rare, with a mintage limit of only 1,000 each.

The platinum coins come in two different sizes, also with color. The platinum examples represent an exceptional opportunity to own this precious metal while its price is relatively low, with the added cachet of animal themes and color. The 1/2 ounce platinum proofs also have a total mintage of only 1,000 each.

Each animal gets a completely different and original motif for each metal, so, for example, the Silver Kookaburra, Gold Kookaburra and Platinum Kookaburra designs are all different.

For completists, there are five-coin sets for each of the varieties, giving collectors an easy way to collect all five coins of any size and metal.

Below-Issue Wholesale Prices!
We are offering every coin and set at wholesale prices lower than the mint's issue prices! For example, the 5-Coin Silver Proof Set is approximately $40 below issue! And of course, our shipping within the U.S. is still only $5 per order (not per item), with no minimum!

Meet The Artist!
The designer of the Discover Australia - The Dreaming Series is none other than Darryl Bellotti, who has also designed the Australian Koala coins as well as the Rectangular Dreaming coins for the Perth Mint. He is an indigenous or native Australian (what we call an Aborigine), who for generations untold coexisted with the endemic Australian animals, hunting them as necessary but always respecting their Spirits. Bellotti is inspired by his boyhood memories of hunting trips in northwestern Australia, where he observed the unique fauna of the island continent and was guided by his elders. The aboriginal art depicts the animal surrounded by patterns that symbolize the Dreamtime and the native landscape of the Outback. Our web site provides even more detailed information about all of the topics touched on here, exploring each in greater depth and displaying additional images! Please visit the Discover Australia - The Dreaming listings on our site to learn more!

2009 +2010 Discover Australia - the Dreaming sets and coins still available!
Explore the 2009 Discover Australia and 2010 Discover Australia coins and sets - we have them all available at fantastic prices!

There is only one silver option in the Discover Australia - The Dreaming Series, the one ounce, pure silver dollars with color. These silver proofs offer the least-expensive way to participate in the Discover Australia program, as well as the largest coins size-wise. The mintage limit for each is only 10,000 coins (including those in the five-coin sets). Combining Indigenous Australian designs with animal motifs, we believe the silver coins will sell out quickly.



It's obvious from the dramatic image of each native Australian animal that Darryl Bellotti was interested in dynamic portrayals. The animals are displayed in action, with the splashes of color representing the native environment of each animal.

Proof Strikes with Color
Each of these coins is a true proof strike, with fields that are deeply mirrored. The relief devices are white-frosted cameo, and the deep, rich colors of Australia's natural environments are incredible!


Five Coin Silver Proof Set
We believe that the Five Coin Silver Set will be hard to find in the future, not the least because it offers the easiest and most economical way to own the complete set of silver proofs. Another reason is that the five coin set will be considered sold out when the first of the individual coins is sold out, meaning no more sets can be assembled.

Discover Australia - The Dreaming Gold Proofs
Who doesn't love gold (and want to add more to their collection)? Beautiful, permanent, rare and incorruptible, gold is on everyone's want list! Yet gold holds a reputation of being pricey and out of reach for the average collector.

Option 1 - Smallest Gold
Well, thanks to the good folks at the Perth Mint, that doesn't have to be so. They've been thoughtful enough to provide a 1/25 Ounce Gold Proof for each of the five animals in the Discover Australia - The Dreaming Series! Each is a miniature work of art, in full proof finish, but priced at roughly only twice the gold value of the coin (and not much more than a silver proof)!

The artwork is truly unique, as well! Darryl Bellotti has said that he wanted to depict each animal on the gold coins in a relaxed pose, experiencing a tranquil moment of peace and relaxation. We think he succeeded!





Option 2 - Moderately Sized (and Priced) Gold
Of course, if you want something a little larger, we can help. Each 1/10 Ounce Gold Proof contains 2.5 times the gold of the 1/25 Ouncers, but at only double the cost. Individually or in sets, all coins in the Discover Australia - The Dreaming Series is presented in a luxurious, velvet lined gift box with a native Australian jarrah wood lid.



Option 3 - Truly Rare, Investment Grade Gold
For are real investment piece, we suggest considering at least one of the 1/2 Ounce Gold Proofs. Here is an animal motif, .9999 pure gold proof with a mintage of only 1,000 - making it truly rare! An added bonus is the aboriginal art it sports - a very hot, international collecting theme! At our extremely reasonable price of around 1-1/2 times their melt value, we feel that each 1/2 Ouncer is a great buy-and-hold for any rare coins investment portfolio!


Five Coin Gold Proof Sets
All three sizes of gold coins (1/25, 1/10 and 1/2 ounce) are available in sets containing all five of the 2010 Dreaming Series animals. These sets will only be available as long as all 5 animals are available, so as soon as one animal in a given size is sold out, the set of that size can no longer be issued by the Mint. We particularly like the 1/2 Ounce Gold Proof Set as an investment, because each coin has a mintage limit of only 1,000. This set is not inexpensive, but it's likely that only a few hundred at most will be released.

Discover Australia - The Dreaming Platinum Proofs
Platinum is the ne plus ultra of precious metals. Thanks to the recent economic downturn, platinum is hundreds of dollars below its recent high.

Why We Love These Platinum Proofs
We highly recommend at least a little platinum for every investment portfolio (numismatic or otherwise). We especially recommend the Dreaming Series Platinum Proofs as a tremendous opportunity, for a number of reasons:
  • Very low mintages!
  • Dynamic animal motifs.
  • Color - platinum coins with color are few and far between!
  • Each is an original work of art executed by a native Australian, Indigenous artist.
  • Pricing - as low as any collector platinum coins in the marketplace today!
  • In fact, at our sale prices, they approach the premiums that some bullion platinum coins carry!



At One with Nature
With his platinum designs, Darryl Bellotti subtly reminds us that these animals existed in harmony with the land, sea and sky long before the appearance of mankind. On the platinum coins, references to courtship rituals and progeny are used to symbolize their ancient process of renewal.

Option 1 - Moderately Sized (and Priced) Platinum
The 1/10 Ounce Proofs in this series offer an incredible opportunity for any collector to add this desirable metal to their holdings. Combining original aboriginal designs, animal motifs, color, purity, proof finish and low mintages at a price not much above the melt value of the metal.


Option 2 - Truly Rare, Investor Platinum
The 1/2 Ounce Platinum Proofs offer an even better value, as each is only about 1.5 times the melt value of the platinum metal it contains, with a total mintage of only 1,000 per animal, making each truly rare! As with the 1/2 Ounce Gold Proofs (above), we highly recommend these Platinum beauties as a phenomenal long-term buy-and-hold!