2021 Australia Shipwrecks Zeewijk Triangular Silver 1 oz

2021 1oz Silver Triangular Australian Shipwrecks Zeewijk

The Royal Australian Mint launched this limited mintage, 4-coin Triangular Australian Shipwreck series with the highly acclaimed inaugural release of the 2019 Batavia edition. This is the first ever triangular-shaped coin series struck in bullion. And the theme of this exciting series is absolutely perfect to showcase its stunning designs within the highly unique shape! Issued in 1 oz .999 fine silver and .9999 gold, both metal editions quickly caught the global attention of collectors and investors alike. The magnificent design and production excellence continues with this fourth and final release, 2021 1oz Silver Triangular Australian Shipwrecks Zeewijk edition.

Highlights

• 2021 1oz Silver Triangular Australian Shipwrecks Zeewijk.
• Fourth and final release of 4-coin Australian Shipwrecks series.
• First ever triangular-shaped Coin Series struck in bullion.
• Very limited mintage of only 20,000 worldwide.
• Contains 1 Troy oz .999 fine silver.
• The obverse displays scenes from the dramatic story as it unfolded, resulting in the Zeewijk succumbing to her dreadful fate. Also included is the distinctive effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark. Inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II . AUSTRALIA . 2021 . ONE DOLLAR."
• Unique reverse design depicts both the favorable beginning and the disastrous fate of the Zeewijk, depending on how you orient the coin.
• Individual coins come in specially designed triangular capsule. Multiples of 10 come in sealed rolls.

Making the Best of a Tough Situation

The Zeewijk launched with high expectations, as this bright scene is captured on the rather unusual reverse design. Looking at the silver coin with the ship having set sail, expectations for a favorable voyage are high. However, the banner inscriptions are displayed upside down. Although quite unusual at first glance, this is a truly remarkable design and every bit as unique as the coin's shape. Not until you rotate the coin to rightly display the banner will you see that, unfortunately, the ship's voyage ended in disaster. However, that's not the full story...

Story of the Zeewijk

As presented by the mint:

"The Zeewijk left the Netherlands in 1726 for Batavia with 208 seamen and a rich cargo of more than 315,000 guilders in ten chests. Having lost 28 men by the time it reached the Cape of Good Hope in 1727, further disaster soon struck when the Zeewijk hit reef off the Western Australian coast.

Managing to set up camp on a nearby island and saving the chests of guilders, 11 of the survivors later launched the longboat to raise the alarm in Batavia. Tragically, these men were never seen again.

Meanwhile, the remaining crew salvaged material from the Zeewijk's wreck and ingeniously built another boat, named 'Sloepie,' reinforced with local mangrove timber. More than ten months after being shipwrecked, the men and chests of guilders set sail in Sloepie. After just four weeks, 82 survivors victoriously landed at Batavia in their makeshift boat.

The Zeewijk was the last Dutch East Indiaman to be wrecked off the Western Australian coast and Sloepie was the first boat built by Europeans in Australia."