The lyrebird, a bird able to mimic the calls of other birds and even the sounds of machinery, has lived on Australia’s 10-cent coin since 1966, and this 2007 example has additionally been gold plated.

The reverse was designed and sculpted by Stuart Devlin, the artist entrusted with the designs of Australia’s first decimal coins. The bird owes its name to the male’s tail: during display its feathers take the shape of a lyre. The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Elizabeth II with the initials IRB.

The Royal Australian Mint struck 61.1 million 10-cent coins dated 2007, and officially this is an unplated copper-nickel coin: neither the issuer nor the catalogues list a gilded version of this year. The plating was applied later as a souvenir finish, so what you have is a decorative keepsake built on a genuine Australian coin.

The UNC grade means the coin itself never circulated and shows no wear. The decorative plating is not part of the official specification of the issue, and the appeal of this piece lies in pairing a well-known design with a souvenir finish.

For those who collect coins by subject, whether wildlife, architecture, famous people or sport, the VPcoins catalogue offers other themed issues too.