Once hunted near to extinction, Humpback Whales are now found in oceans around the world and are a common sight off eastern and western Australia. These magnificent creatures feature on the new Royal Australian Mint series of coins depicting animals of the Australian Antarctic Territory. Humpback Whale protection commenced in Australian waters in 1963 and in 1965 the decline in global numbers were recognised granting these creatures global protection. Since then Australia’s Humpback Whale populations has increased from a low of 200 to an estimated 60,000 and is steadily increasing each year.