Those devotees of the study or collection of currency and other members of the numismatic community will find their hearts warmed, knowing that the Silver Peace Dollar Coin issuance was inspired by their interesting and widespread hobby.The Peace Dollar was minted by the The U.S. Mint during a seven-year period, from 1921-1928.

Its inspiration originally came from a November 1918 article in The Numismatist, the official publication of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), which suggested the minting of a coin to mark the end of World War I and the triumph of democratic ideals.

This suggestion was further expounded at the ANA convention in Chicago in August 1920. It called for either a half-dollar or a dollar commemorative coin to provide ample space for a design showcasing liberty, prosperity, honor and democracy. US Treasury authorities, however, went a step further and issued the silver as a coin for general-public circulation.

The Silver Peace Dollar coin succeeded the Morgan dollar which was minted last in 1904. The Pittmann Act sponsored by Nevada Senator Key Pittmann enabled the minting of the Silver Peace Dollar, as this federal law authorized US sale of standard silver bullions the proceeds of which will used for minting new silver dollars.

The Peace Dollars designer was Anthony de Francisci who prominently rendered the word “PEACE” at the bottom of coins reverse side. The silver content of this coin is 0.77344, and it is the last silver dollar that was minted for US circulation.

There was brief minting of the Silver Peace Dollar coin in 1965 with the coins bearing the year 1964. For one reason or another, however, these coins were neither circulated to the public nor any of their examples released. The whole 1965 mintage was melted, perhaps along with the hopes of some avid numismatist and Peace coin collectors.

Some coin collectors have a desire for acquiring, as part of their treasured possessions, a collection of silver bullion coins with exotic animals as their icons. These collectors would for sure find great value in the Australian Silver Koala issued by the Perth Mint of Western Australia.

This particular mintage is a follow-through of the super successful introduction of the Australian Silver Kookaburra by the same mint in 1990 and the Australian Kangaroo in 1993 by the Royal Australian Mint. Having all three in coins should be a superb combination for a thematic animal-inspired silver bullion collection.

The Australian Silver Koala was first struck two years ago by the Pert Mint, which is famous for coins of excellent workmanship and innovative designs. The 1997 first year of mintage was an instant success as the koala whose image the coin bears is a well-loved creature the world over.

Numismatists of course will tell you that it would be erroneous to call this coin as the “Australian Silver Koala Bear,” although there is a certain rhyme to this term. The koala is scientifically classified under the genus Phascolarctos, which is rooted from the Greek word “phaskolos,” for pouch, and the misleading “arktos,” for bear. The koala, however, is a marsupial, an arboreal or tree-dwelling animal found only in the tropical forests of Australia.

The jungle, nonetheless, is no place for the Australian Silver Koala, but would be more at home at some treasure chests. This collectors delight is a 1-oz coin made from 99.9% pure silver in a koala design that changes each year.

The latest edition has the image of a young koala clinging to a tree branch. The Perth Mint struck the 2008 mintage of the coin with a different design which features that of a mother koala perched on a tree with a baby Phascolarctos at her back.

This 2008 mint also has a gold coin edition in addition to the silver standard, firmly establishing that there is indeed alot of treasures to be found Down Under!