Polar Series $5 Silver Proof Coin - Aurora Australis (2009)
Country of Origin:  Australia
Production year: 2009
Type: Proof
UPC: 9-314688-021808
Mint catalogue number: 802180
Collection number: (#68)
Production mint:  • Royal Australian Mint
Purchase place:  • Royal Australian Mint
Purchase date: 28 August 2009
Purchase price: Hidden
Overview
Polar Series $5 Silver Proof Coin - Aurora Australis (2009)

The $5 silver proof hologram coin shows a silhouette of a sailing ship, surrounded by the amazing colours of the Aurora Australis. The colour of the hologram changes to represent this celestial phenomenon. Depending on the angle of the coin, you will experience an array of vibrant colours, which illustrate charged particles streaming from the sun towards the South Pole.

We have included design elements from the preceding coins. Keen observers will see the location details of several key scientific base camps, the Antarctic Skua in flight, and the first Australians to reach the South Magnetic Pole from the Ernest Shackleton expedition. As with those earlier releases, we have again included intricate laser frosting revealing concentric patterns on the land mass map.

The fourth and final silver coin from the Royal Australian Mint’s International Polar Year series has been struck and given its name, the Aurora Australis.

The $5 silver proof commemorative is unique in the series with its dynamic hologram design that portrays the mesmerizing and colourful Aurora Australis surrounding a sailing ship.

The design by W. Pietranik also includes features from each of three preceding coins within the series, as Janinin Murphy, CEO of the Royal Australian Mint, described in Mint Issue #29:

"In an exciting finale to our International Polar Year coin series we have released a fourth coin which captures the amazing colours of the Aurora Australis. This coin also includes, in hologram form, design elements from the preceding coins in the series; a map of key scientific base camps, the Antarctic Skua in flight and the first Australians to reach the South Magnetic Pole."

The Aurora Australis, also referred to as the southern polar lights, are produced by charged Sun particles (the solar wind) colliding within the Earth’s magnetic field.

Specifications, prices and order information
The 2009 Aurora Australis silver coin is struck from 99.9% pure silver, has a mass of 1 1/7 troy ounces, a diameter of 38.74mm, and is limited to a mintage of 12,500.
Images
Polar Series $5 Silver Proof Coin - Aurora Australis (2009)
Polar Series $5 Silver Proof Coin - Aurora Australis (2009)
Specs
 Content
Silver....99.999 %
 Details
Weight (Troy oz)....1.143
Weight (g)....36.31
Diameter (mm)....38.74
Thickness (mm)
 Monetary
Year of Issue....2009
Country of Issue....Australia
Denomination....Dollar (AUD)
Value....5
 Mintage
Coins Minted....12,500
Certificate of Authenticity....06,658