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Star Dreaming – Emu in the Sky
Presented by
Royal Australian Mint
Nominal value
1 dollar
Weight
15,57 g
Diameter
35,89 mm
Metal
Silver 999°
Mintage
5 000 pcs
Production quality
Coloured Frosted Uncirculated
Designer
Royal Australian Mint
Producer
Royal Australian Mint
Description of obverse and reverse
Coin’s reverse features the Emu in the Sky as captured by Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney a Wiradjuri Artist from Peak Hill, NSW. The emu constellation is positioned within an image of the milky way. With curved horizon line corresponding to the orientation of the constellation after sunset at particular times of the year. The orientation corresponds to the correct time to collect emu eggs for food and also when traditional ceremonies take place such as the bora initiation ceremony.
Coin’s obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark
A brief annotation
Aboriginal elders teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky. One of the most widespread Aboriginal constellations across Australia is the great Emu in the Sky. Instead of a constellation of bright stars, its a silhouette traced by the dark spaces in the Milky Way, stretching from the Southern Cross to Sagittarius.
In Wiradjuri traditions of central New South Wales, the celestial emu is Gugurmin. When Gugurmin rises at dusk in Bangalang (Autumn), the birds are nesting and it’s the season to collect their eggs for food. Male emus sit on the nests over Babang (Winter) and the chicks hatch in Yiraga (Spring), and are reared by the father emus. This coincides with coming-of-age ceremonies (Burbung), as represented by the young dancers.
