Venomous Beauty

The Perth Mint has woven an intricate, .9999-fine gold coin to recognize the redback spider. Related to the North American black widow spiders, the venomous spider is native to Australia. “The redback spider is a uniquely Australian icon,” says Perth Mint General Retail Manager Tina Kircher. “While many Australians prefer to admire one from a distance, its distinctive appearance and intricate web made it a fascinating subject for this release. The redback’s web is an extraordinary feat of natural design, and we wanted to reflect that same level of detail in this piece.”

The proof coin features a sculptural spider embellished with black diamonds, with a handset ruby on its back to represent its iconic red marking. The spider is poised on an intricate silver web. A windmill and weathered fencing appear in the background, referencing the Australian outback where the spiders are commonly found. THE JEWELLED REDBACK SPIDER appears at the top of the design. 

With a limited mintage of only 60 pieces, the coin costs a whopping US$24,603 and is Australian legal tender.