Royal Australian Mint, 2020 Australian Shipwreck Series – Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) 1 oz .999 Silver Coin in Capsule

Description

The Royal Australian Mint presents the second release in the Australian Shipwreck series featuring the Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon). For the first time in bullion, the series will feature coins that are triangular-shaped in size. The Gilt Dragon follows on from the popular first release in the series featuring the Batavia.

The exquisite design of the reverse conveys two scenes to communicate the journey of the Gilt Dragon. With the image of the ship viewed upright, the Gilt Dragon is shown setting sail in its full glory. Flipping the coin to view the text of ‘1656’ and ‘Vergulde Draeck’ upright depicts the ship in its final state capsized shortly after wrecking in 1656. The obverse design depicts scenes from the dramatic story of the Gilt Dragon before its ultimate demise.

Product Highlights

• Second release in the four coin series
• Contains 1oz of .999 fine silver
• Limited Mintage of 20,000 coins worldwide
• Unique triangular-shape
• Presented in protective triangular capsule
• Australian Legal Tender
• Sealed rolls of 10

History & Significance

These coins are the second of the Australian Shipwreck Series, following the Batavia release of 2019. On the morning of 28 April 1656, a VOC ship called the Vergulde Draeck, travelling towards Batavia (now Jakarta) with a load of trade goods, coins, cargo, passengers and crew, struck an uncharted reef off the coast of Western Australia. The reef gutted the ship and only 75 of the crew survived, along with a small quantity of provisions and a single boat.

The under steersman, Abraham Leeman, took the boat and six crew on an astonishing and gruelling journey to Batavia and reported the wreck. Several attempts were made to rescue the survivors, but they were never located. The wreck of the Vergulde Draeck was discovered in 1963 and was excavated in 1972. Some 19,000 coins were recovered, mainly Spanish reals and some Japanese silver coins. The mystery of what became of the survivors of the Vergulde Draeck has never been answered. This was one of the most enigmatic episodes of Australia’s maritime history.