2490) "Wallal Expedition Centenary" (1922-2022), University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia: The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) has issued $1 (One Dollar - AUD) Base Metal and $5 (Five Dollars - AUD) Silver Coins to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022:
The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) has released new Base Metal (Brilliant Uncirculated - BU) and $5 Silver (Proof - P) Coins with a dome effect (for the Silver Coin) which commemorate a very special event occurring in a remote part of the country 100 years ago (1922-2022).
In 1919, Arthur Stanley Eddington conducted what is famously known as "The Eddington Experiment", which was an observational test of general relativity, organised by the British astronomers Frank Watson Dyson and Eddington in 1919.
The observations were of the total solar eclipse of 29.05.1919 and were carried out by two expeditions, one to the West African island of PrÃncipe, and the other to the Brazilian town of Sobral.
The aim of the expeditions was to measure the gravitational deflection of starlight passing near the Sun.
The value of this deflection had been predicted by Albert Einstein in a 1911 paper; however, this initial prediction turned out not to be correct because it was based on an incomplete theory of general relativity.
Einstein later improved his prediction after finalising his theory in 1915 and obtaining the solution to his equations by Karl Schwarzschild.
Following the return of the two expeditions, the results were presented by Eddington to the Royal Society of London and, after some deliberation, were accepted. Widespread newspaper coverage of the results led to worldwide fame for Einstein and his theories.
Then again, in 1922, the eyes of the world were focussed on an expedition of international and Australian scientists to Wallal, Australia.
The conditions in this remote corner of Western Australia were ideal for photographing a total eclipse that was due on 21.09.1922.
The photographic images taken during this ground-breaking expedition allowed for the precise measurements of the apparent position of the stars near the eclipsed Sun.
This gave scientists the evidence that proved Albert Einstein’s revolutionary Theory of General Relativity.
In September 2022, The University of Western Australia (UWA) is celebrating the Centenary of the Wallal eclipse expedition, an effort involving astronomers, filmmakers, aviators, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, and the Indigenous Nyungumarta people who welcomed the group to their land.
Instigated by UWA Professor Alexander Ross, the expedition proved Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, changed our understanding of space, time and gravity, and showcased Western Australia as a significant player in world science.
This set the stage for Australian participation in recent discoveries of black holes and neutron stars crashing together and making the most powerful explosions that send gravitational waves echoing across the universe.
The Commemorative Coin:
The Reverse design of the $1 (Base Metal) and $5 (Silver) Coins against a linear backdrop, depicts the Earth in correlation with Australia, with Wallal featured very prominently.
The Earth sits in a funnel to highlight Einstein’s theory of relativity and to emphasise that many people gravitate towards Wallal.
Above the Earth is the eclipse which could be seen best in a very narrow band across the Earth.
The domed or concave design lends greater effect to the depiction and topic
Above the primary design along the edge is the text "WALLAL CENTENARY AUSTRALIA TESTS EINSTEIN’S THEORY". The coins’ specifications of "1oz .999 Ag" (Silver Coin) are shown below.
The Obverse design of the $1 (Base Metal) and $5 (Silver) Coins include an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark, whose initials "JC" appear on the Queen's shoulder.
The denomination of "1 DOLLAR" (Aluminium-Bronze) or 5 DOLLARS (Silver) is shown beneath the effigy, with the year of issue "2022" included in the legend surrounding the portrait.
The Coin has been issued in two variants - Base Metal ($1) and Silver ($5):
i) The specifications of the Silver Coins are:
Country of issue: Australia; Year of issue: 2022; Coin Theme: "UWA Centenary of the Wallal Expedition (1922-2022); Denomination of Coin: $5 (Five Dollars - AUD); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 39.60 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.00 oz; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Australian Mint (RAM); Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Designer(s): Adam Ball (Reverse), Jody Clark (Obverse).
Each Silver Proof coin is encapsulated and housed in a custom display case with a Presentation Carton/Box/Case and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
ii) The specifications of the Base Metal Coins are:
Country of issue: Australia; Year of issue: 2022; Coin Theme: " UWA Centenary of the Wallal Expedition (1922-2022); Denomination of Coin: $5 (Five Dollars - AUD); Metal Composition: Aluminum-Bronze; Diameter/Size: 25.00 mm; Weight: 9.00 grams; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mint: Royal Australian Mint (RAM); Mintage: 30,000 pieces; Designer(s): Adam Ball (Reverse), Jody Clark (Obverse).
The base metal one-dollar coins are encapsulated and placed in a Presentation Card.
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