Australian Gold Kangaroo Coins
Gold Kangaroos - first minted as Australian Gold Nugget coins in 1986
One special characteristic of these 99.99% pure gold coins is that the design of their reverse side changes every year, always featuring a different kangaroo image. The Australian Gold Kangaroo coins are also known under a different name. The coins displayed various gold nuggets on their reverse during the first few years of mintage so they are also known as Australian Gold Nugget coins. In fact, this name of origin was engraved on the coins until 2007, even though the coins display kangaroo images since 1990 (1989 for proof coins).
The Australian Kangaroo coins are minted by the Perth Mint in a wide variety of different sizes, from a tiny 1/2 gram all the way up to a world-record 1 tonne. Two finishes - brilliant uncirculated (BU) and proof - are available as is customary for gold bullion coins. Gold Kangaroos are packaged in tubes and boxes by the mint but are usually sold individually. Investors who want to buy gold in the form of these coins have the option of not only buying them from precious metals dealers online but also directly from the
Perth Mint Online Shop
.
Annual mintage numbers of the Australian Kangaroo gold coins are quite low compared with those of other gold bullion coins. Their annually changing design and low mintage numbers strongly appeal to collectors as well. The coins are fully backed by the Australian government. American consumers that are investing in gold for their retirements can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).
Coins with annually changing design
| Weight | Face Value | Purity | Diameter x Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | AUD $ 100 | 99.99% | 32.6 x 2.8 mm |
| 1/2 oz | AUD $ 50 | 99.99% | 25.1 x 2.2 mm |
| 1/4 oz | AUD $ 25 | 99.99% | 20.1 x 1.8 mm |
| 1/10 oz | AUD $ 15 | 99.99% | 16.1 x 1.3 mm |
| 1/20 oz* | AUD $ 5 | 99.99% | 14.1 x 1.4 mm |
| 1/2 gram** | AUD $ 2 | 99.99% | 11.6 x 0.70 mm |
* minted 1990-2011, ** minted since 2010
Australian Gold Kangaroo Coin Designs
Gold Kangaroo Coin Design
The obverse side of the Australian Gold Kangaroo coins depicts the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II in profile wearing a royal tiara. The depiction of her majesty is meant to symbolize Australia’s allegiance to the crown and the British Commonwealth. The coin's denomination appears below the royal portrait and her majesty's title and the country’s name are engraved along the left and right edge. The 2019 coins were the first to depict a new effigy of her majesty on the obverse side. The new portrait was designed by Jody Clark and it replaces the portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley that had been in use since 1998.
The coin's reverse side depicts an annually changing image of a kangaroo or pair of kangaroos. During the first few years of production, the coins displayed various gold nugget designs on the reverse though. In 2008, the coins changed their official name to "Australian Kangaroo" and that name appeared along the upper edge of the coins until 2021. The year of mintage, gold weight and purity appeared below the central kangaroo image along the lower edge during those years. The 2022 issue of the coins was the first to make a change to these inscriptions. The mintage year, weight, purity and name now appear together along the upper edge above the central image from left to right. Furthermore, the name of the coins now appears only as "Kangaroo". The mint mark P can be seen on the reverse side of the Gold Kangaroos as well.
Since 2019, the reverse side of the Australian Gold Kangaroo coins also features a micro-laser engraved letter that is only detectable under a magnifying glass. This design innovation was introduced as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
History of the Australian Gold Nuggets | Gold Kangaroos
The Perth Mint first produced Australian Gold Nugget coins in 1986, albeit only as proof coins. From 1987 on, brilliant uncirculated (BU) coins were minted as well in the four different denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. Each of the four coin denominations had a different gold nugget design on the reverse side. The nugget design of the brilliant uncirculated coins (that had inherited their design from the 1986 proof coins) remained the same until 1989. However, the four proof denominations of 1987 displayed other gold nuggets than in 1986. The gold nugget design of the proof coins was changed once more in 1988.
The 1989 proof edition of the Australian Gold Kangaroo coins was the first with a kangaroo image on the reverse, which was then also used on the 1990 BU coin. This first ever "Red Kangaroo" design was from then on used repeatedly on the 1 kg, 10 oz and 2 oz denominations of the coins as well as on the 25th Anniversary coin in 2014. The kangaroo design has changed every year since then always featuring a different kangaroo image. The 1/20 oz coin was added in 1990 and minted until 2011. The three largest denominations of the Gold Kangaroos (1 kg, 10 oz and 2 oz) were introduced in 1991. Even though the coins displayed kangaroo images since 1990 (proof coins since 1989), they were still officially labeled as Australian Nugget coins until 2007. The 1/2 gram Gold Miniature Kangaroo "Mini Roo" coins are produced since 2010. Unlike the denominations between 1 oz and 1/2 gram that feature a different kangaroo image on their reverse sides every year, the larger coins (1 kg, 10 oz, 5 oz, 2 oz) display the same "Red Kangaroo" design every year. The year 2009 was the last that 2 oz and 10 oz "Red Kangaroo" issues were minted. Finally, a 5 oz edition with the "Red Kangaroo" design was only issued in 2015.
In 1992, the face value of the 1 kg coin was lowered from AUD $ 10,000 to AUD $ 3,000 whereas the face value of the 10 oz coin was lowered from AUD $ 2,500 to AUD $ 1,000 and the face value of the 2 oz coin from AUD $ 500 to AUD $ 200.
The Perth Mint produced a one tonne Australian Gold Kangaroo coin in October 2011 with a face value of AUD $ 1 million. However, the massive coin bears the date of 2012 when it was issued. It bears the "Red Kangaroo" design and measures approximately 80 centimeters in diameter and is about 12 centimeters thick.
A special 25th anniversary edition of the coins was issued in 2014. These coins also feature the "Red Kangaroo" design and are dated 1989 - 2014.
Mintage Numbers
The official mintage numbers of the various Gold Australian Kangaroos were published here by the Perth Mint online.
The mintage record of the Australian Gold Kangaroos was set in 2013 when 341,417 coins of the 1 oz denomination were sold. Of the other denominations, the 1 kg coin is generally produced with the lowest mintages. Only 61 such coins with the Red Kangaroo design were minted in 2002. During the Covid-19 pandemic year of 2020, sales of the 1 kg issue dropped to a new low with only 43 coins minted and sold.
Australian Silver Kangaroos
The Perth Mint started minting the bullion version of the Australian Silver Kangaroo coins in 2015. The limited number of coins that were minted that year were 99.9% pure. Since 2016, the Australian Silver Kangaroos are 99.99% pure. The brilliant uncirculated version of the coins is only minted in the 1 oz size. Proof coins of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz exist as part of a set but the 1/4 oz proof coins are also available individually. Whereas the Australian Gold Kangaroo coins depict a different kangaroo image on their reverse side every year, the same "Red Kangaroo" design is depicted on every annual bullion edition of the silver coins.
The Australian Silver Kangaroo page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.
Australian Platinum Kangaroos
The Perth Mint's inaugural 2018 Australian Platinum Kangaroos were available for order since the 23rd of October 2017. The 99.95% pure coins are only issued as brilliant uncirculated coins in the single denomination of 1 oz for now. Mintage is unlimited and according to the current market demand. The coins have an official face value of AUD $ 100 and depict the same "Red Kangaroo" design on their reverse side that is also used on the silver version of the coins as well as the larger denominations of the gold version of the coins. The Australian Platinum Kangaroo coins are available individually as well as in sealed mint rolls of 20 coins and sealed mint boxes of 100 coins.
The Australian Platinum Kangaroo page gives more information about the coins.
Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin Sets
Gold Nugget | Kangaroo proof sets
total gold weight: 1.9 oz
The proof sets are issued annually since 1986. The design of the Australian Gold Kangaroo proof coins differs from the bullion coins. Between 1986-1988, the sets contained 4 coins (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz). Since the addition of the 1/20 oz proof coin in 1989, the sets contain 5 coins. A commemorative medallion is sometimes included as well.
3 coin precious metals proof set 1990
total gold weight: 1 oz
total silver weight: 1 oz
total platinum weight: 1 oz
This unique set includes 3 different precious metal proof coins from 1990, the 1 oz Australian Gold Nugget | Kangaroo, the 1 oz Australian Silver Kookaburra and the 1 oz Australian Platinum Koala.
"Tribute to Freedom" proof sets 2002
total gold weight: 0.5 or 1.5 oz
total silver weight: 1 oz
The Perth Mint issued these sets in 2002 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Liberty Bell's casting and the 225th anniversary of the adoption of the American flag. Two different "Tribute to Freedom" sets exist. A 3-coin set that was issued 499 times includes the proof 1 oz and 1/2 oz Gold Kangaroo coin (with the Liberty Bell privy mark) together with the proof 1 oz Silver Kookaburra. A 2-coin set without the 1 oz Kangaroo was issued 999 times.