The "Ravi" red panda dollar is part of the Royal Australian Mint's ongoing Australian Zoo series, issued in partnership with Australia Zoo — the Queensland facility founded by Bob Irwin and made internationally famous by his son Steve. Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity; naming individual animals on legal tender is a direct fundraising and awareness mechanism, with a portion of proceeds typically directed toward conservation programs.
Struck to one-troy-ounce .999 fine silver, these zoo series pieces see the bulk of their mintage absorbed immediately by collectors, meaning circulated examples are essentially nonexistent.
The "Ravi" red panda dollar is part of the Royal Australian Mint's ongoing Australian Zoo series, issued in partnership with Australia Zoo — the Queensland facility founded by Bob Irwin and made internationally famous by his son Steve. Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity; naming individual animals on legal tender is a direct fundraising and awareness mechanism, with a portion of proceeds typically directed toward conservation programs.
Struck to one-troy-ounce .999 fine silver, these zoo series pieces see the bulk of their mintage absorbed immediately by collectors, meaning circulated examples are essentially nonexistent.