Birds of Australia 2026 $1 Pale-Headed Rosella 1oz Silver Proof Coin

A stunning synthesis of 99.9% pure silver and glorious full-colour, the latest issue in the Birds of Australia Series forms a memorable tribute to Pale-headed Rosella!

One of Australia’s most beautiful birds, the Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus) is festooned with a cornucopia of colours. While the head and the upper part of the breast are cream-yellow, the bird’s body is an entrancing admixture of pale blue, bright blue and blood red – with the wings being black, edged with yellow!

Growing to approximately 30cm in length, and feeding upon fruit, grass and seeds – with a particular love for Scotch Thistle! – Pale-headed Rosellas are endemic to the north of eastern Australia. Brightening the skies, and brightening the hearts of all lucky enough to see them in flight, this captivating kaleidoscopic creature is the perfect subject for the wonders of full-colour minting.

Sure to catch the eye of bird-lovers and collectors worldwide, the design of the Pale-headed Rosella on this enchanting new coin is based on an illustration from The Birds of Australia. The first comprehensive ornithological survey of Australia, The Birds of Australia was created by ‘the Father of Australian Ornithology’, John Gould. This key work featured magnificent illustrations by, among others, Elizabeth Gould, John Gould’s wife, including this stunning depiction of Pale-headed Rosellas. Extremely exclusive, the limited edition has been set at just 750.

With the Birds of Australia Series so popular, both at home and abroad, that meagre mintage seems inadequate to meet demand. Immediate action a must – click add to cart now!

 

John Gould – the Father of Australian Ornithology

Rising from humble beginnings, John Gould (1804-81) became one of the finest and most influential ornithologists of the 19th century.

Born the son of a gardener in southwest England, it is believed that Gould had little formal education. His father’s vocation inspired a love of nature, however, and birds in particular. Having trained under his father at the Royal Gardens of Windsor, and worked as a gardener at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire, Gould established a taxidermy business at the age of 20.

Gould’s expertise in taxidermy saw him appointed the first ‘Curator & Preserver’ at the museum of the Zoological Society of London, and in this position, he came into contact with Britain’s leading naturalists. As a consequence, Gould was often the first to see new natural collections, including those comprising birds. Throughout the 1830s, Gould published several key works on birds, including A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains, Birds of Europe and Icones Avium.

Having worked with Charles Darwin, and played a role in the formation of Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection, Gould set sail in 1838 for Australia with his wife and ornithological artist, Elizabeth Gould. Aiming to be the first to publish a major work on Australian birdlife, Gould spent the best part of two years collecting specimens from right around Australia.

The result was The Birds of Australia – a seven-volume collection published from 1840 to 1848, representing the first comprehensive ornithological survey of the Great Southern Land. Comprising descriptions of 681 bird species, including 328 that were previously unknown, this extraordinary work was highlighted by Elizabeth Gould’s magnificent artwork, with nearly 600 lithographic plates in The Birds of Australia being produced from her illustrations.

Described as ‘undoubtedly the greatest of Gould’s eighteen major works’ (Australian Dictionary of Biography), The Birds of Australia ensured eternal fame for Gould in Australia. Having had the Gould League named after him in 1909, and honoured with the issue of commemorative stamps in 1976, John Gould is rightly known as the Father of Australian Ornithology.