Gem, Rock, and Mineral Postage Stamps From
Australia

Official Name:	Commonwealth of Australia
National Name:	Commonwealth of Australia
Alternate Names:	Downunder
Monetary Units:	12 pence (p) = 1 shilling (sh), 20 shillings (sh) = 1 Australian pound (£A). On February 14, 1966, the Australian dollar replaced the Australian pound at a rate of 10 Australian pounds to 1 Australian dollar. Currently, 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents (c).
Location:	Continent and island state of Tasmania; located south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.
History:	Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901.
Mineral Resources:	Iron ore, bauxite, zinc, lead, tin, coal, oil, copper, silver, nickel, tungsten, diamond, uranium, mineral sands.


Quartz (var. Chrysoprase / Chalcedony) Australia Scott 558 6 cents 11 Jul 1973	Quartz (var. Agate) Australia Scott 559 7 cents 11 Jul 1973	Quartz (var. Precious Opal) Australia Scott 560 8 cents 11 Jul 1973


Rhodonite Australia Scott 561 9 cents 11 Jul 1973	Corundum (var. Sapphire) Australia Scott 562 10 cents 16 Oct 1974	Quartz (var. Precious Opal) Australia Scott 580 9 cents 16 Oct 1974

This set of 6 stamps shows gemstones in their natural and cut states. Scott 580 is an overprint of the 8-cent Scott 560.


Quartz (var. Light Opal) Australia Scott 1429 $1.20	Quartz (var. Black Opal) Australia Scott 1430 $2.50

This set of 2 stamps was issued on 5 Apr 1995 and illustrates polished gemstones. Both stamps were produced using a holographic process.


Pearl Australia Scott 1554 45 cents	Diamond Australia Scott 1555 $1.20

This set of 2 stamps was issued on 5 Sep 1996 and illustrates polished gemstones. Scott 1555 was produced using a holographic process.