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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,126 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Since Justabeginner wanted to see the pic, here's a quick shot.  This came from the RAM set I picked up. Initially there was a little ghosting due to the plastic holder, which was gently removed by a soak overnight in alcohol. Despite the photo, the coin has quite a bit of luster on the obverse, and is a nice coin by "business strike" standards.  Edited by KurtS
06/12/2008 5:36 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, be it ever so humble, the 5-cent is a pretty coin.
Wonder how they got the echidna into the pose ?
Peter
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5318 Posts |
Peter, agreed--Aus. coins have very good designs of your native species.  We have no counterpart in American coinage, which is a shame. The Echidna looks to be rolled up as a defense? |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
I don't think I've ever seen one's face Lol. When they get frightened they burrow into the ground. Found this one in the backyard one day.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Learjet--wow, what a great animal to have in your backyard! Edited by KurtS
06/12/2008 11:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day,
quote: "The Echidna looks to be rolled up as a defense?"
Precisely ! And as illustrated by Learjet's wonderful pic, the echidna makes a ball of himself, with his spiny surface uppermost, to protect his belly. Whereas the 5-cent echidna is showing us his belly.
Peter
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
839 Posts |
we probably have Echidnnas down the backyard every night, since its all bush at the back. Out the front we might get an Echidna once a month, due to house being here and the road.
Also someone killed a wallaby almost jsut outside our house (ran over it) about 40m form a 'slow down, wildlife' road sign that recently got up for that purpose.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Peter, They picked the better way to show the Echidna on the 5c. A spiny reverse wouldn't have been as nice. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day,
quote: "They picked the better way to show the Echidna ..."
very true, but "artistic licence" has exceeded reality.
It's like that well-known Italian coin of the 1960s, showing a fleet of sailing ships. The sails are billowing in one direction, but the flags are fluttering in the opposite direction: a bi-directional breeze. Makes for a better "composition", but an impossibility. By the way, someone on the CCF has that coin as an avatar.
Anyway, the view we have of the echidna on the 5-cent, is a view not encountered in nature. I doubt that there is any sigbnificance beyond that: just an anomaly for collectors to chat about.
Peter
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
839 Posts |
those Italians need common sense!
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Valued Member
Australia
335 Posts |
Eddy, there is currently a sort of Echidna census going on where one can report sightings and also road kills. If I find the link, I'll post it. maybe a google search will show the site.
Kurt, you have the earlier variety there for the 1972 5c. They changed the reverse dies part way through the year producing a die where the Echidna is higher up on the coin eg greater space at bottom. So one can have a low and a high Echidna reverse types. I think the high is the scarer.
Wayne
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Interesting info on the Echnida, and on my coin--great! Thanks! Edited by KurtS
06/14/2008 02:29 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
839 Posts |
We nearly hit an echidna the other nigth also! it was just standing on the road.. lucky mum stopped and it ran across...
That report of roadkill would probably be useful, to you know if it goes to Toowoomba? if it does, it should come here.
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Valued Member
Australia
335 Posts |
Sorry to highjack this topic but here are the details for Eddy on the Echidna Watch / Survey. Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland - Echidna Watch Survey Form http://www.wildlife.org.au/w-echidnaform.htmlThere is also this from a group on the Gold Coast, Queensland WANTED: your Echidna sightings. If you sight an echidna could you please email your sighting to me. Please include size ("dinner plate", "bread & butter plate" or "cup & saucer" size), time of day (morning or evening), status (alive or dead) and area of sighting. Many thanks, Leigh Koppman Echidna Coordinator waimuri@optusnet.com.au And here is one from a South Australian Echidna Research Centre. http://www.echidna.edu.au/monotreme...tch_form.pdfCheers Wayne |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
No apology necessary--it's very interesting and no doubt helpful to the Echidnas. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,126 |
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Posted 06/12/2008 5:34 pm
