2013 Ludwig Leichhardt Australia/Germany Joint Issue $1 PNC

2013 200th Anniversary of Ludwig Leichhardt $1 PNC

The Perth Mint and Australia Post have released a commemorative 200th Anniversary of the birth of German naturalist and explorer Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (1813c-1848), an explorer and naturalist whose mysterious disappearance in the Australian outback has entered into the nation’s mythology.

Leichhardt undertook three major expeditions, the last of which was an ill-fated attempt to cross the continent east-west from the Condamine River to the Swan River. This resulted in the disappearance of Leichhardt and his entire party, of which no remains have ever been found. Leichhardt’s legacy includes his contribution to the natural sciences in Australia, detailed in his fieldbooks, notebooks, journals and diaries.

Issued as Australian legal tender, the uncirculated aluminium bronze coin is housed in a beautifully designed card that fits inside a similarly illustrated envelope with a circular window revealing the coin’s reverse and obverse designs. The coin’s reverse features Ludwig Leichhardt and a line superimposed on a map of north-east Australia indicating the route of his most famous expedition to Port Essington on the Coburg Peninsula.

Along with The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ Mintmark, along with the inscription LUDWIG LEICHHARDT, 1813 and 1848. Affixed to the envelope are two stamps, one issued by Germany and the other issued by Australia Post for the value of 60c. The German stamp is postmarked with the Berlin stamp and the 60c Australia Post stamp is postmarked for the first day of issue.

The envelope includes Australia Post’s Seal of Authenticity and official number.