In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!

Long SOLD OUT at the Perth Mint!

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES—Australia's Remarkable Reptiles! The beautiful design, EXCEEDINGLY LOW MINTAGE (only 5,000) and full color design make the Frilled Neck Lizard pure silver dollar a great investment!!

First in a new series—Australia's Remarkable Reptiles! Following hot on the heels of the extraordinarily popular Deadly & Dangerous Series and Endangered & Extinct Series from the Perth Mint (Australia's precious metals experts), Australia's Frilled Neck Lizard leads off the new Remarkable Reptiles Series in a tremendous fashion! This large (up to 3 feet in length!), predatory lizard exhibits its trademark behavior in such dramatic fashion that it is well known both within and outside of Australia.  When threatened, this dragon-like lizard produces a startling display: it gapes its mouth, exposing a bright pink or yellow lining; it spreads out its frill, displaying bright orange and red scales; raises its body; and sometimes holds its tail above its body! This reaction is used to intimidate and discourage predators, for territorial displays, and during courtship.

The Remarkable Frilled Neck Lizard
The frilled necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), also known as the frilled lizard, frill-neck lizard and frilled dragon, is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. The neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage which are connected to the jaw bones. When the lizard is frightened, it gapes its mouth showing a bright pink or yellow lining, and the frill flares out, displaying bright orange and red scales. This display is usually used to discourage predators and in courtship. The lizard is a member of the agamid family which means it a relatively large lizard, growing up to 3 feet in length (91.4 cm). The lizard is also capable of bipedal locomotion.

The frill-necked lizard does not have one standard color. Rather, it is characterized by a body that is darker than its frill. There is only one recorded species of the frill-necked lizard; however, the immense variations of color among the species has lead some scientists to hypothesize more than one species.

Like many lizards, frill-necked lizards are insectivorous, feeding on cicadas, beetles, and termites. They especially favor butterflies and moths, even more so their larvae. Though insects are their primary source of food, they also consume spiders, other lizards, and small mammals. Like most members of the agamids (dragons), frill-necked lizards employ an ambush method of hunting, lying in wait for their prey. When the lizards eat, they eat in abundance; these binge periods usually occur during the wet season, when the lizards will ingest hundreds to thousands of alates (ants or termites).

Please see the presentation lower on this page for more information about Tuvalu and its association with Australia.

Investment Note
The Frilled Neck Lizard is the first release in the new Remarkable Reptiles Series from the Perth Mint. Like all the releases in the Deadly & Dangerous series, and the Endangered & Extinct Series, we expect the lizard to sell out in record time, and so stand to increase significantly in value. Given the theme or topic as well as the woefully inadequate mintage limit of only 5,000 per release, it's only natural that collectors, investors and speculators have flocked to these beautiful coins and driven the prices skyward!

Technology Note
The Perth Mint of Australia employs its own proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The vibrant hues and precise execution of the technology create a stunning, full-color portrait on each coin.

Obverse
A full color, naturalistic portrait of a Frilled Neck Lizard making its trademark display in its natural surroundings, framed by the border of reptilian scales and skin. The legend FRILLED NECK LIZARD defines the theme.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend QUEEN ELIZABETH II, the date of issue and denomination also appear, while the legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity.

Packaging
The coin is encapsulated inside an elegant, luxury presentation case, with black velvet and satin interior, and protected by a full-color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.

Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbors are Kiribati, Samoa and Fiji. It is comprised of four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 11,992 makes it the third-least populated independent country in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. It is also the second-smallest member by population of the United Nations. In terms of physical land size, at just 10 square miles Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City, Monaco and Nauru.

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people, who arrived about 3000 years go. The islands came under Great Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974 the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within The Commonwealth in 1978. with Queen Elizabeth II as titular head of state.

Because Tuvalu has few natural resources it has been dependent in recent years upon aid from larger, more developed nations, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The Perth Mint of Australia is officially commissioned by the government of Tuvalu to produce legal tender coinage for the island nation.