Jewel of the shrublands

The blue-breasted fairy-wren is a tiny, energetic bird native to southwest Australia, admired for its vivid beauty and lively nature. A favourite of famous ornithologist John Gould, he gave it the Latin name Malurus pulcherrimus, ‘pulcherrimus’ meaning 'very pretty'. These spirited creatures hop, dart, and flit quickly through low shrubs, often flicking their tails up - a behaviour that provides them the balance required for such quick movements.

Artistic touch

The 99.9% silver coloured coin from Downies Collectables features an image of three blue-breasted fairy-wrens sitting amongst scrub, inspired by the artwork created by legendary ornithologist John Gould in 1844. Also included in the design is the inscription 'BLUE-BREASTED FAIRY-WREN' and a special 'JG' privy mark representing John Gould's initials.