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A kookaburra in full flight, its wings extended, graces this pure silver beauty!

The kookaburra is one of the iconic symbols of Australia, made all the more desirable by the Perth Mint's execution of this handsome bird in pure silver, artistically rendered in an unique, reverse proof finish! This year the design depicts a singled kookaburra in full flight, with its wings fully extended.

This beautiful coin is part of the highly collectible series of one ounce Pure Silver Kookaburras. The obverse design of this series, with the kookaburra, changes each year, further enhancing its collectibility. The reverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the British Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member. The Pure Silver Kookaburra has a face value of one dollar and can be difficult to locate, much less in pristine condition, so we advise you to acquire one you need when you find it.

What's So Funny?
The kookaburra is probably the best known bird of Australia. There are actually four species of kookaburra found in Australia and New Guinea. All are members of the Kingfisher family. Far and away the most familiar is the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).

Kookaburras are famous for their unmistakable call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter - good-natured, if rather hysterical, merriment in the case of the Laughing Kookaburra; and maniacal cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-Winged Kookaburra (D. leachii). The word "kookaburra" is borrowed from an aboriginal word of the Wiradjura language, "guuguubarra", which is onomatopoeic of (replicates) the avian's call.

Kookaburras are carnivorous. They eat lizards, snakes, insects, mice and raw meat. The more socialized birds will accept handouts from humans and will take raw or cooked meat from open-air barbecues left unattended. Kookas are territorial, and often live with the partly grown chicks of the previous season.

The notoriety of the kookaburra's laugh, as well as its nervy antics, has been spread worldwide by the popular children's song "Kookaburra" by Marion Sinclair. Please see the end of this article for the complete lyrics to the song "Kookaburra".

Obverse
A single kookaburra is captured in full flight, its wings fully extended. The legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The legend THE AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA and the date are also indicated.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl drop earrings, was executed by the sculptor Raphael Maklouf. The legend QUEEN ELIZABETH II, the date of issue and denomination also appear.

Country	Australia
Mint	Perth Mint of Australia
Year of Issue	1996
Face Value	One Dollar
Weight	31.135 g
Diameter	40.60 mm
Gauge (Thickness)	4.00 mm
Mintage Limit	300,000
Finish	Reverse Proof
Composition	.999 Fine (Pure) Silver
Edge	Reeded (milled, serrated)
Artist	Raphael Maklouf (reverse)
Packaging	Encapsulated

"Kookaburra" by Marion Sinclair
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh kookaburra, laugh
Kookaburra, gay your life must be

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gumdrops that he can see
Stop, kookaburra, stop
Kookaburra, leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Chasing all the monkeys he can see
Stop, kookaburra, stop
Kookaburra, that's not a monkey, that's me!