Australia. 1 Dollar 2020 (No reserve price)

This unique, triangular-shaped coin depicts the Zuytdorp, one of Australia's shipwrecks in 1 ounce of .999 fine Silver. There is a limited mintage of 20,000 coins available in this release. This third release of the Australia's Shipwreck series from Royal Australian Mint follows the Vergulde Draeck, and depicts a part of Australia's maritime history. The design shows the story of the shipwreck and events that followed on this limited mintage, Silver coin.

In 1711, Dutch East India Company trading ship, the Zuytdorp (meaning ‘South Village’), set out from the Netherlands for Batavia on what was to be its third and final voyage. Onboard were more than 200 men and precious cargo comprising 250,000 silver coins.

After nearly seven months at sea with scurvy claiming the lives of many men, the Zuytdorp continued its journey from the Cape of Good Hope via the Indian Ocean.

Zuytdorp never arrived at Batavia and with no knowledge of where it may have sunk or whether it had been taken by pirates, no search was ever made. The wreck was found more than 200 years later off the coast of Western Australia along a stretch now known as the Zuytdorp Cliffs. Divers of the wreck have reported a ‘Carpet of Silver’ – the result of thousands of silver coins strewn along the ocean floor. These coins inscribed with ‘Zeeland’ and ‘1711’ helped identify the wreck as the ill-fated Zuytdorp, which still abounds in mystery today.

The 1 oz Australian Shipwreck Silver Coins are a unique and striking bullion series issued by the Royal Australian Mint starting in 2019. Each triangular coin commemorates a famous Dutch East India Company vessel that wrecked off the coast of Western Australia. Because of its unique shape and history, these coins are the perfect collector’s item.