Terrifying beast

In mythology, the basilisk is a terrifying beast first described by the ancient Romans. According to their texts, it could kill almost all living forms with its deadly venom, noxious breath, or even its lethal gaze. Later, medieval legends emerged suggesting the unnatural creature with a reptilian body, dragon’s wings, and the head and claws of a rooster, was hatched by a toad from a defiled cockerel’s egg.

Malevolent creature design

The coin portrays a basilisk in flight approaching its mountain cave. As well as the inscription ‘MYTHICAL CREATURES BASILISK’, the design includes The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.