2019 marks 150 years since the discovery of the largest-known alluvial gold nugget ever found - the Welcome Stranger. It was discovered near the Victorian goldfields town of Moliagul by John Deason and Richard Oates on 5 February 1869 and contained almost 2,300oz of gold!
Anniversary Design
The coin’s reverse design portrays a representation of the Welcome Stranger nugget with the inscription ‘THE WELCOME STRANGER NUGGET 1869 - 2019’ as well as the Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
Official Commemorative Stamp
The envelope is stamped with an official $1 Australia Post stamp depicting the original photograph and Welcome Stranger nugget and is postmarked with two mining axes for the first day of issue 26 February 2019
Postal Numismatic Cover
The coin is housed in an illustrated card with a window displaying the coin’s reverse and obverse designs. The envelope depicts the original photograph taken of the miners and their wives with a replica of the Welcome Stranger. Also included in the Postal numismatic cover's design a beautifully illustrated map of the area where the nugget was discovered and a copy of the Miner’s Right issued in Victoria in 1865 on the back of the cover.