Description
BOX JELLYFISH Australia Deadly Dangerous Silver Coin
A dramatic addition to one of the most sought after series in numismatics, the latest issue in the Australian Deadly and Dangerous Series has just been launched! A typically stunning example of the peerless full-color minting techniques of The Perth Mint, this outstanding new legal tender collector coin honors one of Australia’s most dangerous creatures -the Box Jellyfish.
Box Jellyfish
The Indo-Pacific or Australian box jellyfish (Chironex Fleckeri) is claimed to be the most venomous marine animal known to mankind and its sting is often fatal. This extremely poisonous marine stinger frequents Australia’s northern oceans all year round. The infamous box jellyfish developed its frighteningly powerful venom to instantly stun or kill prey, like fish and shrimp, so their struggle to escape wouldn’t damage its delicate tentacles.
Their venom is considered to be among the most deadly in the world, containing toxins that attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. It is so overpoweringly painful, human victims have been known to go into shock and drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors can experience considerable pain for weeks and often have significant scarring where the tentacles made contact. Box jellies, also called sea wasps and marine stingers, live primarily in coastal waters off Northern Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific. They are pale blue and transparent in color and get their name from the cube-like shape of their bell. Up to 15 tentacles grow from each corner of the bell and can reach 10 feet (3 meters) in length. Each tentacle has about 5,000 stinging cells, which are triggered not by touch but by the presence of a chemical on the outer layer of its prey. Box jellies are highly advanced among jellyfish. They have developed the ability to move rather than just drift, jetting at up to four knots through the water. They also have eyes grouped in clusters of six on the four sides of their bell. Each cluster includes a pair of eyes with a sophisticated lens, retina, iris and cornea, although without a central nervous system, scientists aren’t sure how they process what they see.
The coin’s reverse depicts a Box Jellyfish against a colored background of coral reef and tropical fish. The inscription AUSTRALIA’S BOX JELLYFISH is included in the design. Issued as legal tender of Tuvalu, the coin depicts the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the monetary denomination. Each coin is housed in a high-gloss timber presentation case and shipper emblazoned with the warning “DANGER”.
Country – Tuvalu
Year – 2011
Face Value – 1 Dollar
Metal – Silver Fineness (purity) – 999/1000
Weight (g) – 31.1 (1 oz)
Diameter (mm) – 40.6
Quality – Proof
Mintage (pcs) – 5,000
Certificate (COA) – Yes
Presentation case (box) Yes
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