Celebrate some of the world’s most ancient creatures with the Perth Mint’s 2014 Thylacoleo 1 oz Silver Proof coin, the fourth release in the Australian Megafauna series.

Composed of .999 pure silver, each proof coin has been graded PF70 by the NGC — making it the perfect addition to any portfolio.

The reverse features a pair of Thylacoleo — the largest marsupial carnivore of its time — set against a colorized background. A fuzzy cub peers over the back of it’s long-tailed mother as she climbs a dark-brown branch. The coin is inscribed with THYLACOLEO and 1 OZ 999 SILVER, along with the Perth mintmark, P.

The obverse features Ian-Rank Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, along with the coin’s year and denomination.

Own the best in silver bullion. Order an NGC-PF70 Silver Thylacoleo from Provident Metals today.

About the Thylacoleo

The Thylacoleo is unlike any creature living today, and it is widely considered the most specialized mammalian carnivore of all time. Its forelimbs were amazingly strong, allowing it to carry prey up into a tree — which it caught using semi-opposable thumbs, large claws and massive shearing teeth.

The Thylacoleo had an incredibly muscular tail, with specialized bones that allowed it to rock onto its hindquarters in order to slash and grasp animals like the giant kangaroo and hippopotamus wombat.

PF70 on the Sheldon Grading Scale

Invented by American psychologist and numismatist William Herbert Sheldon, Jr (1898-1977), the Sheldon Coin Grading Scale is a 70-point system used to determine the quality of a coin. Reputable grading organizations — including the NGC — use the Sheldon Scale to assess a coin’s condition.

PF70 denotes a proof coin in perfect condition. It has maintained its original luster, and there are no signs of handling, scratches or wear of any kind. The coin has a flawless appearance — and very few coins exist in this condition.

About the NGC

The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation made its debut in 1987, as the need for standardized coin grading grew increasingly important. Since that time, the Florida-based organization has worked tirelessly to elevate coin grading standards across the globe.

The third-party grading service is the largest in the world, and it has assessed more than 27 million coins since its inception. As the official coin grading service of the American Numismatic Association, the NGC encapsulates each certified coin in a sonically-sealed holder made of inert materials, protecting each one for future generations.

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint was founded in 1899 after gold was discovered in local Australian deposits. The newly-established mint struck gold and silver sovereigns until Great Britain abandoned the gold standard in 1931.

The mint remained under British ownership until July of 1970, when it ceded to the state government of Western Australia. Today, the Perth Mint produces nearly all of the nation’s legal tender bullion coins in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.