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Australian Coins

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When one thinks of the island country, Australia, a few of the defining characteristics that come to mind include the Great Barrier Reef, kangaroos, and the outback. What few people talk about however are the incredible numismatic releases that are regularly released from island nation from not one, but two renowned Mints; the Perth Mint and Royal Australian Mint. Keep reading below to learn more about what Australian Coins have to offer you and your collection.

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When one thinks of the island country, Australia, a few of the defining characteristics that come to mind include the Great Barrier Reef, kangaroos, and the Outback. What few people talk about, however, are the incredible Australian Coins that are regularly released from the island nation from not one but two renowned Mints; the Perth Mint and Royal Australian Mint. Keep reading below to learn more about what Australian Coins have to offer you and your collection. 


First established in 1899 due to a massive gold reserve, the legendary Perth Mint is a world leader in modern-day numismatics with a long history of quality and a slew of different Australian coins as diverse as its own ecosystems. Australia’s second premier Mint, the Royal Australian Mint, opened in 1965 and strikes all of Australia’s circulating coinage along with stunning collectible coins. From coins featuring Australian flora and fauna to iconic Australian landmarks and historical figures, Australian coins are characterized by a wide variety of intricately designed themes combined with technical innovation and a high standard for metal purity.

The Perth Mint

The Perth Mint was established in 1899 as a branch of Great Britain’s Royal Mint and would remain so until 1970, when it was transferred to the authority of Western Australia. Due to the booming population growth of Western Australia at the turn of the century, partially due to the uncovering of large gold reserves in the region, the Perth Mint became a place for miners to deposit their hard-earned gold, which would then be struck into coins. In 1957, this renowned Mint set a record for striking the world’s finest gold coin made in 99.9999% pure gold, which today is still the standard to beat.

What Are the Names of Australian Coins?

Circulating currency consists of Australian dollars and cents from the Royal Australian Mint, but Australia’s official bullion-producing facility, the Perth Mint, produces a number of bullion coins that often feature flora and fauna native to the island nation. Some of the most prominent silver and gold bullion releases include:

While the Perth Mint also strikes extraordinary collectible Australian coins, including proof variants, it is these Australian silver and gold coins that really draw in collectors and stackers alike. For example, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle series marks the famous collaboration between the renowned Perth Mint and former U.S. Chief Engraver John Mercanti. This was the first time a retired U.S. Chief Engraver worked with a foreign Mint to produce a legal tender coin.

 

The Perth Mint is also particularly known for its Lunar series that honors the Chinese Zodiac legend. Starting in 1996 with their Lunar Series I, which followed the complete lunar cycle until the next began, and so did a new series, Lunar Series II, which came to an end in 2019. 2020 kicked off Lunar Series III that again started with the Year of the Mouse.

Kookaburras and Koalas

The famous Silver Kookaburra Series has been a mainstay of the Perth Mint since its debut in 1990. The collection, which offers a new design every year, has captivated the imaginations of collectors by displaying one of the issuing country’s natural treasures in a variety of ways. So simple yet stunning, the designs make the Australian silver coin annual favorites among collectors, with many making it a point to get at least one of these relatively low mintage bullion issues every year.

 

In 2007, a second annual silver series began with the Koala. This better-known Australian animal has proven an excellent way for parents to share their favorite hobby with young children while also captivating collectors of all ages with its one-year-only designs. While this series has yet to catch the Kookaburra in popularity, the collection's adorable designs suggest that it may just be a matter of time until this series gains parity with its older cousin.

The Silver Emu

The Australia Silver Emu coin debuted in 2018. These new Perth Mint coins brought new life – and an exceptional level of scarcity – to bullion. For the first two years of the series, a strict mintage cap of just 30,000 pieces, less than a tenth that of the standard Kookaburra mintage, was imposed. Still young, this series already promises to be an anticipated annual release.

The Royal Australian Mint

The Royal Australian Mint is the younger of the two production facilities, having been established in 1965 to produce Australia’s circulating coinage, eventually replacing the Melbourne Mint. In addition to producing the coinage that Australians use every day, the Mint also releases collector coins with gorgeous finishes and sometimes low mintages.

 

Like the Perth Mint, the Royal Australian Mint annually issues a Kangaroo-themed coin and has done so since 1993. Each issue features a different, stylistic portrayal of the hopping marsupial. One of the more unique Australian coin series from the Royal Australian Mint is the Echoes of Australian Fauna series, which features extinct or endangered species from Australia’s past.  Thus far, Australia coins featuring the Tasmanian Tiger and the Lesser Bilby have been released, with more to come. It is a gorgeous series that features select black nickel faces and gold gilding of the titular endangered Australian animal while also promoting conservation.

 

In 2019, the Mint made news when they partnered with the United States Mint for the very first time to create a commemorative two-coin set that would honor the Apollo 11 mission and the successful landing of the first men on the moon, as well as both countries’ involvement in it. Without Australia’s Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station, which was integral in broadcasting this pinnacle of human achievement to millions around the world. The set featured one of the United States Mint’s already released Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemoratives paired with a gorgeously designed Royal Australian Mint partially colorized silver coin, which is only available in this set. 

Which Australian Coins Are Most Valuable?

A coin’s value can often be subjective and contingent on numerous factors, including: market demand, precious metal content and purity, availability, design, and even blemishes in some cases. There are some rare, historical Australian coins that have sold for large amounts at auctions, including the 1930 Proof Penny, 1852 Adelaide Pound, 1813 Holey Dollar, and many more

 

Australian gold and silver coins, such as the Koalas, Wedge-Tailed Eagles, Kangaroos, and Kookaburras are known for their high purity levels of gold and silver, with many reaching 99.99% gold and silver. For these coins, the gold and silver spot prices play a role in determining their value, in addition to premiums tacked onto their sale prices based on their weight, design, availability, market demand, and more.

Tuvalu Coins

The island nation of Tuvalu, which is halfway between Australia and Hawaii, frequently issues coins releases, that are actually struck by the Perth Mint. From commemorating Warner Brother’s Porky Pig in full color, particularly appropriate for the 2019 as it was the lunar Year of the Pig, to issuing a colorized silver bar depicting Akaine Kamarik’s painting Prince of Peace, Tuvalu and the Perth Mint have together released a wide array of beautiful Tuvalu coins and bars. 


Tuvalu and the Perth Mint again teamed up, this time with Disney and Marvel, to strike a series of Avengers-themed bullions coins. To date, Hulk, Iron Man, Spiderman, and even Deadpool have appeared on their own fine silver coins. For example, the Tuvalu Black Panther coin features King Ta’chala of Wakanda ready to strike out against villains and injustice. Tuvalu also strikes colorized coins for popular movies such as an 80th anniversary proof for the Wizard of Oz, a 50th anniversary proof for the Planet of the Apes, and a 40th anniversary partially colorized silver proof for Alien.

Shop Australian Coins at GovMint.com

Finding a trusted coin dealer when buying Australian coins online is crucial to ensure the authenticity, quality, and competitive pricing of your purchase. This is particularly important when buying investment-grade bullion coins or  collectible numismatic pieces, as their appeal can be significantly affected by factors such as condition, rarity, and the current market for precious metals. 

 

Trustworthy dealers, like GovMint.com, will have a strong reputation in the industry and extensive knowledge about the coins they sell. Since 1984, our company has established itself as one of the largest retailers of rare and collectible Australian coins, among many other world coins from leading Mints. Shop our collection of Australia coins today to add to your own collection or portfolio. 

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