Australia: New silver dollar Proof coins feature “Footprints in Time” and the oldest preserved footprint in the world

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The Royal Australian Mint has released new silver Proof one-dollar and Brilliant Uncirculated 20-cent coins featuring the image of perhaps one of the world’s oldest examples of man’s existence on the Australian continent.

Designed by Royal Australian Mint artisan Aaron Baggio, the reverse side of the coins’ design is dominated by an incused representation of a preserved Mungo footprint, surrounded by the cracks and fissures of the petrified lakebed. A map of Australia is formed by some of the cracks. The word MILLENNIA has been added along the lower edge to identify the 20,000 years that have passed since the footprints were made. The text WILLANDRA LAKES TRACKWAY is seen along the right side edge, to give the site its official title. Along the upper-left edge is the coins’ denomination of ONE DOLLAR (silver) or TWENTY CENTS (cupro-nickel).

The obverse depicts the Commonwealth effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II created by Graphic Artist Jody Clark. The year of issue 2021 is included in the legend surrounding the effigy.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
20 cents	Cupro-nickel	11.3 g	28.5 mm	Brilliant Unc.	20,000
One dollar	.999 Silver	15.5 g	28.5 mm	Proof	5,000

The cupro-nickel versions are enclosed in a coin-card format that includes illustrations and informative text. The silver Proof strikes are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information about both of these coins, please visit the website of the Royal Australian Mint.

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