Australia 2012-P Koala Bear Sleeping on Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch 50 Cents 1/2 Ounce Pure Silver Half Dollar Reverse Proof Manufacturer: Australia SKU: 64647 Price: $39.95 $29.95 List Price: $49.95 - Savings: $20.00 This item is available to order Quantity:

A sleepy koala bear takes a nap on the branch of an eucalyptus tree on this hard to find, pure silver beauty!

The koala bear is one of the iconic symbols of Australia, made all the more desirable by the Perth Mint's execution of this cute and cuddly critter in pure silver, artistically rendered in a reverse proof finish, in which the design or devices are mirrored. This year, a sleepy, tuckered out koala bear takes a nap or siesta on the branch of an eucalyptus tree that forms its native habitat, safely out of reach of roving predators.

This beautiful coin is part of the highly collectible series of Pure Silver Koalas. The obverse design of this series, with the koala bear, changes each year, further enhancing its collectibility. The reverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the British Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member.

The Pure Silver Koala has a face value of one half dollar and can be difficult to locate, much less in pristine condition, so we advise you to acquire one when you find them.

Click here for other beautiful Koala coins!

A Most Unusual and Surprising Bear!
Despite its appearance, the koala bear isn't really a bear at all, but rather a marsupial. Nonetheless it fascinates us because it's so darn cute - it looks like a living teddy bear! Appearances can be deceiving here, too, because koalas aren't cuddly, either. They are arboreal (tree-dwelling), so they have very strong, sharp claws for climbing (and their bite can cause injury, as well).

Koala bears live nearly their entire lives in the eucalyptus (gum) tree, where they feed almost exclusively on its leaves. They have a very low metabolism for a mammal, so they spend up to 20 hours a day resting and sleeping (and the rest mostly eating). Eucalypt leaves are high in toxic chemicals such as phenols and terpenes, which only the koala has adapted to deal with - the toxins are neutralized in its specialized liver.

Marsupials are unusual, and, many scientists believe, more primitive, mammals. Their best-known characteristic is the pouch for their young, and the koala is no exception. The babies, called joeys, are only a quarter-inch long when born, and enter the world hairless, blind and earless, so the safety of mother koala's pouch is a necessity for its first six months of life. For its second half-year the joey will generally ride on mom's back.

Click here for more great pure silver coins!

Koala Fun Facts
You'd think that it couldn't get any more odd than a living stuffed animal that spends its entire life in, and only eats the leaves of, one kind of tree. If so, you'd be wrong - koalas are among Nature's most unusual and unique creatures. Here's a couple of other oddities about these fascinating fur balls.

Koalas are often thought to be silent, and they are most of the time, but males have a very loud mating call that can be heard for a distance of about one kilometer away during the breeding season! When attacked, koalas may issue a loud cry, which is often likened to that of a human baby.

The koala bear is one of the few mammals (other than primates) that has fingerprints. Koala fingerprints are remarkably similar to human fingerprints - even when viewed with an electron microscope, it can be quite difficult for an expert to distinguish between the two!

Click here for other beautiful Koala coins!

Obverse
A sleepy, tuckered out koala bear takes a nap or siesta on the branch of an eucalyptus tree that forms its native habitat. The Perth Mint "P" mint mark is judiciously located above the koala's back, near the 10:00 position near the rim. The legend 1/2 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The legend AUSTRALIAN KOALA and the date are also indicated.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II and denomination also appear.

You may be interested in these items 

	Australia 2009-P Koala Bear Smiling $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof-Like BU Price: $62.95
	Australia 2009-P Koala Bear Climbing Eucalyptus Tree Gilded $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof-Like BU with 24-Karat Gold Plating Price: $119.95 $109.95
	Australia 2009-P Koala Bear Smiling $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof-Like BU Roll of 20 Price: $1,199.00
	Australia 2010-P Koala Bear Eating Eucalyptus Leaves on a Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Price: $62.95
	Australia 2010-P Koala Bear Eating Eucalyptus Leaves on a Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Roll of 20 Price: $1,199.00
	Australia 2010-P Discover Australia - The Dreaming - Koala Bear $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color Price: $99.95 $89.95
	Australia 2010-P Koala Bear Eating Eucalyptus Leaves on a Gum Tree Branch Gilded $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof-Like BU with 24-Karat Gold Plating Price: $119.95 $94.95
	Australia 2010-P ANDA Coin Show Special Edition - Celebrate Australia - New South Wales, Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge, & Koala $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color Price: $99.95
	Australia 2011-P Koala Bear Mother and Baby Joey in Fork of Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Price: $59.95
	Australia 2011-P Koala Bear Mother and Baby Joey in Fork of Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Roll of 20 Price: $1,159.00
	Australia 2011-P Koala Bear Mother and Baby Joey in Fork of Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch Gilded $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof with 24-Karat Gold Plating Price: $119.95 $94.95
	Australia 2011-P Koala Bear Mother and Baby Joey - Berlin World Money Fair Coin Show Special - Bear Coat of Arms Privy Mark $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Price: $69.95
	Australia 2011-P Bush Babies #5 - Baby Koala Joey and Cicada 50 Cents Pure Silver Half Dollar Proof with Color Price: $149.95
	Australia 2010-P Koala Bear Eating Eucalyptus Leaves on a Gum Tree 50 Cents 1/2 Ounce Pure Silver Half Dollar Reverse Proof Price: $39.95
	Australia 2010-P Koala Bear Eating Eucalyptus Leaves on a Gum Tree 50 Cents 1/2 Ounce Pure Silver Half Dollar Reverse Proof in Box Price: $49.95
	Australia 2012-P Koala Bear Sleeping on Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Price: $59.95 $49.95
	Australia 2012-P Koala Bear Sleeping on Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch 50 Cents 1/2 Ounce Pure Silver Half Dollar Reverse Proof in Box Price: $49.95 $39.95
	Australia 2012-P Koala Bear Sleeping on Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof Roll of 20 Price: $1,199.00 $899.00
	Australia 2012-P Koala Bear Sleeping on Eucalyptus Gum Tree Branch Gilded $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse Proof with 24-Karat Gold Plating Price: $109.95 $94.95
	Australia 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012-P Koala Bear - Special Bonus Discount 4-Pack - Gilded $1 Pure Silver Dollar Reverse 4-Coin Proof Set with 24-Karat Gold Plating Price: $479.80 $374.80

Return to Catalog