The Perth Mint is recognized globally as one of the leaders in terms of gold bullion coins. The mint is known for its annual releases featuring animals found on the continent. Their series of koala and kookaburra coins are favorites for collectors and investors alike. However, their most popular might be the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin. Learn more about this well-known coin program here at Provident Metals.
These coins weren’t always known as the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins. In 1986, an Australian Gold Nugget was released. These coins featured the image of a gold nugget. Just a few years later in 1990, they changed the design to a Kangaroo. While the specific Kangaroo has differed with every release, these coins now all feature images of the Australian animal on every release.
As mentioned above, the reverse design changes every year. However, it’s always a depiction of a Kangaroo. For example, the 2015 release sees a kangaroo hopping from right to left amidst a grassland background. The 2020 issue showcases an adult Kangaroo standing next to its joey.
The obverse of every coin in this series features the effigy of the reigning British monarch at the time.
While BU coins are released annually, the series has made waves for its special unique releases over the years. From 2003 to 2011, a 100-kilogram Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin, commonly referred to as the Big Maple Leaf held the record for the largest gold coin minted. That was until it was thwarted by a unique release in this series, the one-tonne Kangaroo Gold Coin. This coin featured a face value of $1 million (AUD) and was valued at over $53 million (AUD) at the time of minting.
The first batch of coins featuring Kangaroo’s debuted in 1990 with a 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, and a 1/20 oz. The very next year, a 1kg, 10 oz, and 2 oz coin made its debut in the series. A 5 oz gold coin made a one-off appearance in 2015. The 1/20 oz, 10 oz, and 2 oz are no longer released annually. The face value of these coins is dependent on the gold weight of the coin.
The series also introduced a Mini Roo Coin Series starting in 2010. These coins feature stripped-down design sets with reverses depicting only a kangaroo with no natural background. These coins are only available on 1/2-gram coins made from .9999 pure gold.
The Perth Mint has periodically released proof versions of these coins as well. For example, a 1 oz proof strike was released in 2014 for a special 25th anniversary release.
Provident Metals has a great selection of Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins. For any questions you may have about these iconic gold coins, give our customer service team a call at 1-800-313-3315. Our team can also be reached via email or through our online chat feature.