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Australia 2008 Kangaroo Dreaming $1 Pure Silver Rectangular Dollar Shimmer Proof
Price: $129.95
$99.95
(You save $30.00)
Product Description
Enter the Dreaming with this affordable, rectangular animal-themed proof dollar, struck in pure silver!
The designer of this intriguing, rectangular silver dollar is none other than Darryl Bellotti, who has also designed the Australian Koala coins. He is an indigenous or native Australian, what we call an Aborigine, who for generations untold coexisted with the endemic Australian animals, hunting them as necessary but always respecting their Spirits. This coin symbolizes the hunter's entering the Dreaming. In his own words:
Red dirt, mulga and dust. Waves of heat tease the senses with illusions of water. Relentless sunshine scorches the earth. The hot, dry wind offers little respite from the simmering temperatures. There, see, under the shade of a tree. Quiet, still, don't startle them. A soft whistle, gain their attention; lift their head up so we can see them better. A good feed tonight. So is the life of the marloo hunter - the kangaroo hunter.As a boy I would go with my family to the bush where we would learn to hunt kangaroo. We were taught the best locations to find a kangaroo. This knowledge was passed down through generations.
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The Dreaming and the Dreamtime
The aboriginal ideas of the Dreaming and the Dreamtime are spiritual concepts, related to but distinct from each other. In both cases the concepts were transliterated into English words that do not do them justice. The translations are inadequate and nearly completely unrelated to the Western concept of dreams.
The Dreamtime is the "Time Before Time", or the sacred "once upon a time" of the Aborigines. During the Dreamtime, the ancestral, totemic Spirit Beings formed all of creation. Traditional Australian indigenous peoples embrace all phenomena and life as part of a vast,
complex system of relationships which can be traced directly back to the ancestral totemic Spirit Beings of the Dreamtime. Different spirits inhabit each and every aspect of creation, so the echoes of the Dreamtime can be seen and felt everywhere.The Dreaming refers to an individual's or group's set of beliefs or spirituality. For instance, an Indigenous Australian might say that s/he has Kangaroo Dreaming, or Shark Dreaming, or Honey Ant Dreaming, or any combination of Dreamings pertinent to his or her spiritual being. The Dreamtime laid down the patterns of life for the Aboriginal people, while the Dreaming is the spirituality passed on from the inception of creation.
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About The ArtistThe Kangaroo and Turtle Dreaming designs were created by Darryl Bellotti, an Australian Indigenous (aboriginal) artist of both Yamatji and Nyoongar descent. Bellotti is inspired by his boyhood memories of hunting trips in northwestern Australia, where he observed the unique fauna of the island continent and was guided by his elders. He is also the designer of the annual Koala silver and gold releases, as well as the Discover Australia - The Dreaming coins.
The aboriginal art depicts the animal surrounded by patterns that create a unique, "shimmer" background reminiscent of the Dreamtime. The design around each animal represents the knowledge of the hunter - the dots are the hunter's footprints along the path, while the ringed circles symbolize the locations where the huntsman stops to ensnare his prey.
There is huge international interest in Australian Indigenous art. Created through the millennia on rocks, on bark, on canvas and in sculpture, the oldest ongoing artistic tradition in the world stretches back tens of thousands of years.
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Obverse
A kangaroo pauses on his hind legs and looks around expectantly. The representation of the path of the aboriginal hunter is symbolically depicted. There are no legends on the obverse, to enhance the beauty of the design.Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, 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 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. The legend ELIZABETH II, the date of issue and denomination also appear.
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Packaging
Each rectangular coin is sealed in a beautifully illustrated presentation pack, housed in a full-color outer folder. Each package includes an explanation of the artists design inspiration and a facsimile of Darryl Bellottis signature. The pack also incorporates a certificate of authenticity.
Click here for other beautiful silver dollars!
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
| Mint | Perth Mint of Australia |
| Year of Issue | 2008 |
| Face Value | One Dollar |
| Weight | 31.1120 g |
| Dimensions | 47.00 mm x 27.00 mm |
| Gauge (Thickness) | 3.00 mm |
| Actual Mintage | 5,797 |
| Finish | Obverse: Proof Reverse: Reverse Proof |
| Composition | .999 Fine (Pure) Silver |
| Edge | Plain |
| Artist | Darryl Bellotti (obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley (reverse) |
About The Artist - Darryl Bellotti, Indigenous Coin Designer
Much of the inspiration for Darryl Bellotti's stunning artistic creations comes from traditional Aboriginal art. Yet there is a contemporary, innovative feel to his work that stamps it with his own unique style. You will identify it as Australian Indigenous art, but I also want you to recognize it as mine as soon as you see it, is the way he explains his aim.
Darryl deliberately sets out to challenge people's understanding of what they perceive as Indigenous art. For example, he resists the use of too many dots, which would not have been successful in the context of his coin designs. He also strives for a modern edge, finding the design technology available at the Mint to be helpful. I am an Indigenous person of Australia, but I'm also modern in the way that I can create artwork on the computer, he says.
Behind the designs for The Dreaming Series lies Darryl's fascination with the interaction of Australia's native wildlife within the vast and varied landscape. The inspiration for each piece emerges as he imagines himself in the midst of the natural environment, where he relives the experience of its colors, warmth, textures and sounds in his mind. It comes naturally to him, having been brought up for an expected life in the bush.
Intensely familiar with many Australian native animals, Darryl observes them in his mind's eye, searching for a telling movement or posture which will reveal its experience. The different treatments of the kangaroo illustrate the result of this contemplative process.
On the silver coin he shows its power and speed a reaction maybe to being startled by a predator or a bush fire. The colored element, symbolizing Australia's red dirt, seemingly explodes beneath the impact of its feet.
In contrast, the gold coin portrays the animal in a calm mood its relaxed, comfortable stance revealing a tranquil, undisturbed moment, maybe at dusk as it comes out to feed.
With his platinum designs, Darryl subtly reminds us that the animals existed in harmony with the land long before the appearance of mankind. References to courtship rituals and progeny are used to symbolize their ancient process of renewal.
I have an inherent ability to tell a story, Darryl explains, My art, as well as the music I write, is art of my story telling. In the case of The Dreaming Series, it conveys the respect he has for the animals in the beauty of their own environment. The message reflects his optimism for the future. It feels as though everyone is starting to wake up and see things the way my people have been taught for so long through ancient stories about the Dreaming.
Each coin design, depicted with fluid shapes and patterns inspired by nature, represents Darryl's tribute to the animal. My main hope is that people might say, 'Oh, why is this happening?', or 'Why is the animal doing that?' They may never have even seen a brolga before. If they think it's beautiful, they might learn a bit more about it. They might want to learn about the traditional people who live on the land inhabited by these animals.
Much of the inspiration for Darryl Bellotti's stunning artistic creations comes from traditional Aboriginal art. Yet there is a contemporary, innovative feel to his work that stamps it with his own unique style. You will identify it as Australian Indigenous art, but I also want you to recognize it as mine as soon as you see it, is the way he explains his aim.Darryl deliberately sets out to challenge people's understanding of what they perceive as Indigenous art. For example, he resists the use of too many dots, which would not have been successful in the context of his coin designs. He also strives for a modern edge, finding the design technology available at the Mint to be helpful. I am an Indigenous person of Australia, but I'm also modern in the way that I can create artwork on the computer, he says.
Behind the designs for The Dreaming Series lies Darryl's fascination with the interaction of Australia's native wildlife within the vast and varied landscape. The inspiration for each piece emerges as he imagines himself in the midst of the natural environment, where he relives the experience of its colors, warmth, textures and sounds in his mind. It comes naturally to him, having been brought up for an expected life in the bush.Intensely familiar with many Australian native animals, Darryl observes them in his mind's eye, searching for a telling movement or posture which will reveal its experience. The different treatments of the kangaroo illustrate the result of this contemplative process.
On the silver coin he shows its power and speed a reaction maybe to being startled by a predator or a bush fire. The colored element, symbolizing Australia's red dirt, seemingly explodes beneath the impact of its feet.In contrast, the gold coin portrays the animal in a calm mood its relaxed, comfortable stance revealing a tranquil, undisturbed moment, maybe at dusk as it comes out to feed.
With his platinum designs, Darryl subtly reminds us that the animals existed in harmony with the land long before the appearance of mankind. References to courtship rituals and progeny are used to symbolize their ancient process of renewal.
I have an inherent ability to tell a story, Darryl explains, My art, as well as the music I write, is art of my story telling. In the case of The Dreaming Series, it conveys the respect he has for the animals in the beauty of their own environment. The message reflects his optimism for the future. It feels as though everyone is starting to wake up and see things the way my people have been taught for so long through ancient stories about the Dreaming.Each coin design, depicted with fluid shapes and patterns inspired by nature, represents Darryl's tribute to the animal. My main hope is that people might say, 'Oh, why is this happening?', or 'Why is the animal doing that?' They may never have even seen a brolga before. If they think it's beautiful, they might learn a bit more about it. They might want to learn about the traditional people who live on the land inhabited by these animals.