The 2014 coin from the popular annual Australian Antarctic Territory Series features the Wandering Albatross. It is the eleventh coin in the Antarctic Territory series.

One of the world’s most fascinating sea birds, the albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, measuring up to 3.5 metres, which allows it to fly whilst hardly having to flap its wings. This impressive bird can travel vast distances, covering several thousand kilometres in just one week, and will fly further in their lifetime than any other bird on Earth.

The Wandering Albatross is also one of the longest living birds in the world. Known to live to the age of 50 years or more, the albatross mates for life and breeds every two years, laying just one egg at a time, with both the male and the female taking turns to tend to the nest.

The coin’s coloured reverse depicts a Wandering Albatross flying past an iceberg in the Southern Ocean within an outline of Antarctica. As well as the inscription 2014 WANDERING ALBATROSS, the design also includes the words ‘Australian Antarctic Territory’ and The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the monetary denomination are depicted on the coin’s obverse.

Previous releases: Edgeworth David Base, Mawson Station, Leopard Seal, Davis Station, Humpback Whale, South Magnetic Pole, Killer Whale, Emperor Penguin and Aurora Australis