Birds of Australia 2026 $100 Black Swan 1oz Gold Proof Coin

The majestic Black Swan in 99.99% gold…

Honouring a creature of breathtaking beauty and exquisite elegance, we are delighted to present the latest in the internationally acclaimed Birds of Australia Gold Series – the 2026 $100 Black Swan 1oz Gold Proof Coin!

Found mainly in south-western and south-eastern Australia, with an early sighting by Europeans recorded in 1697 when Willem de Vlamingh explored what is now Western Australia, the Black Swan is among Australia’s most graceful native birds. Living up to 40 years of age, and growing up to 140cm in length, the Black Swan is monogamous and mates for life. A symbol of Australian identity, contrasting with the Northern Hemisphere’s White Swan, the Black Swan is one of Western Australia’s key emblems – and a compulsory element of the Birds of Australia Gold Series.

A compelling combination of 99.99% pure gold and glorious full-colour, the portrayal of the Black Swan on this entrancing legal tender coin is based on an illustration from The Birds of Australia. Created by a man known as ‘the Father of Australian Ornithology’, John Gould, The Birds of Australia was the first comprehensive ornithological survey of Australia. Released in seven volumes throughout the 1840s, The Birds of Australia was arrayed with spellbinding illustrations, including this stunning depiction of a Black Swan.

A prestigious acquisition for any collector – especially those with a love for ‘the world’s favourite precious metal’ – the Birds of Australia 2026 $100 Black Swan 1oz Gold Proof is a strictly limited edition. The entire worldwide mintage comprises a mere FIFTY coins!

With a sell-out a cast-iron certainty, immediate action is essential. Click add to cart now!

John Gould – the Father of Australian Ornithology

Rising from humble beginnings, John Gould (1804-81) became one of the finest and most influential ornithologists of the 19^th century.

Born the son of a gardener in southwest England, it is believed that Gould had little formal education. His father’s vocation inspired a love of nature, however, and birds in particular. Having trained under his father at the Royal Gardens of Windsor, and worked as a gardener at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire, Gould established a taxidermy business at the age of 20.

Gould’s expertise in taxidermy saw him appointed the first ‘Curator & Preserver’ at the museum of the Zoological Society of London, and in this position, he came into contact with Britain’s leading naturalists. As a consequence, Gould was often the first to see new natural collections, including those comprising birds. Throughout the 1830s, Gould published several key works on birds, including A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains, Birds of Europe and Icones Avium.

Having worked with Charles Darwin, and played a role in the formation of Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection, Gould set sail in 1838 for Australia with his wife and ornithological artist, Elizabeth Gould. Aiming to be the first to publish a major work on Australian birdlife, Gould spent the best part of two years collecting specimens from right around Australia.

The result was The Birds of Australia – a seven-volume collection published from 1840 to 1848, representing the first comprehensive ornithological survey of the Great Southern Land. Comprising descriptions of 681 bird species, including 328 that were previously unknown, this extraordinary work was highlighted by Elizabeth Gould’s magnificent artwork, with nearly 600 lithographic plates in The Birds of Australia being produced from her illustrations.

Described as ‘undoubtedly the greatest of Gould’s eighteen major works’ (Australian Dictionary of Biography), The Birds of Australia ensured eternal fame for Gould in Australia. Having had the Gould League named after him in 1909, and honoured with the issue of commemorative stamps in 1976, John Gould is rightly known as the Father of Australian Ornithology.