Australian Silver Kangaroo Coins
Silver Kangaroos - 99.99% pure and virtually counterfeit-proof
Due to the ongoing success of the Australian Gold Kangaroo coins, the Perth Mint decided to issue an Australian Silver Kangaroo series as well. Referring to Western Australia's renowned mint, you will find this type of silver bullion coin sometimes also listed as Perth Mint Silver Kangaroo coin online. The Australian Silver Kangaroo coins were first offered in 2015. Their reverse side displays the "Red Kangaroo" design that is also used on the larger denominations of the gold version. So, the silver coins don't change their reverse design every year like the gold coins.
When you buy silver in the form of these coins, you are buying one of the highest-purity silver coins on the market. The Australian Silver Kangaroos are minted out of 99.99% pure silver since 2016 whereas most other silver bullion coins are 'only' 99.9% pure. Special anti-counterfeiting measures set the coins further apart from other comparable silver coins. Each Australian Kangaroo silver coin has a microscopic letter (only visible under magnification) micro-engraved at a specific spot on its surface. The coins are sold individually, in 25-coin tubes and in 250-coin mini monster boxes. Each 25-coin tube is protected from secret tampering through a holographic security strip.
Both brilliant uncirculated and proof coins are issued annually, almost exclusively in the 1 oz denomination. Only proof coins are also minted in the additional sizes of 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. The legal tender 1 oz Silver Kangaroo coins have an official face value of AUD $ 1 and are fully backed by the Australian government. American buyers that are investing in silver for their retirement can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).
Coin Specifications
| Weight | Face Value | Purity** | Diameter x Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | AUD $ 1 | 99.99% | 40.60 x 2.98 mm |
| 1/2 oz* | AUD $ 0.5 | 99.99% | 32.60 x 3.10 mm |
| 1/4 oz* | AUD $ 0.25 | 99.99% | 25.50 x 2.50 mm |
| 1/10 oz* | AUD $ 0.1 | 99.99% | 20.60 x 2.00 mm |
* only as proof coins; ** the 2015 coins were 99.9% pure
Collectible Silver Kangaroo Coin Designs
Silver Kangaroo Coin Design
The British monarch Queen Elizabeth II is depicted on the obverse side of the coins. She is shown in profile with her royal tiara. The depiction of the British Queen is meant to symbolize Australia’s ongoing allegiance to the crown and the British Commonwealth. The coin's denomination of 1 Dollar appears below her majesty's image and the words ELIZABETH II and AUSTRALIA are engraved to the left and right of her image. 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.
Whereas the Australian Gold Kangaroos depict a different kangaroo image on their reverse side every year, the bullion version of the Silver Kangaroos depicts the same "Red Kangaroo" design every year. The words "AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO" are engraved along the upper edge of the coins above the kangaroo image. A microscopic letter that can only be seen under magnification is engraved within one of the letters in that name. That measure is meant to provide counterfeit protection. The 2017 Silver Kangaroo coin contains the letter within the third "A" whereas the 2016 and 2015 coins contained it within the first "A". The year of mintage, silver weight and purity are engraved along the lower edge of the coins below the kangaroo. The mint mark P appears to the right of the kangaroo's tail on the reverse as well.
The inscriptions on both sides of the coin appear on top of a wavy-line pattern that forms a ring at the coin's edge. The 2015 coins had a frosted ring appearance instead of this pattern.
History of the Australian Silver Kangaroos
The Australian Silver Kangaroos at first only existed as limited mintage collectible coins (see slider and purple header box above). The Perth Mint introduced the silver bullion version of the Australian Kangaroo coins only in 2015. Mintage was still capped that first year and the coins were only 99.9% pure. That first year's mintage went almost exclusively to a North American distributor that only began marketing the coins in 2016. By that time, the 99.99% pure 2016 coins had already come out. The Perth Mint regards the 2016 coins as the inaugural release and the lower-purity 2015 coins as a "limited forerunner". Since 2016, the coins are minted according to demand.
The brilliant uncirculated version of the coins is only minted in the 1 oz size. However, a 4-coin proof set containing four different denominations (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz) was issued in 2016 and 2017 as well. The 1/4 oz proof coins that are included in these sets are also available individually. The 1 oz, 1/2 oz and 1/10 oz proof coins from 2016 and 2017 are only available in this set though.
Confusingly, there is another Australian Silver Kangaroo coin of bullion quality (99.9% purity) that is minted by another mint. These other coins that share the same name are minted by the Royal Australian Mint and their annual mintage is quite limited. To avoid confusion with the 99.9% pure Royal Australian Mint's Silver Kangaroo coins that are mostly bought by numismatists, some precious metal dealers list the Perth Mint's 99.99% pure coins as Perth Mint Silver Kangaroo coins.
Mintage Numbers
The official mintage numbers of the Australian Kangaroo silver coins were published here by the Perth Mint online.
The planned maximum mintage of 300,000 coins for 2015 was reached and sold out completely. Since 2016, the coins are produced according to demand without a predetermined maximum. A total of 11,245,615 coins was minted that year. Annual mintage numbers have declined since then but still number in the millions.
Australian Gold Kangaroos
The 99.99% pure Australian Gold Kangaroo coins are also known under their original name as Australian Gold Nugget coins. After displaying various images of gold nuggets starting with their inaugural issue (as proof coins) in 1986, the coins quickly switched to kangaroo images in 1990 (1989 for proof coins). A new kangaroo image appears on the reverse side of the coins every year since then. The coins are offered in a wide variety of denominations by the Perth Mint, from a tiny 1/2 gram all the way up to the world-record 1 tonne coin. Both brilliant uncirculated (BU) and proof coins are issued. Annual mintage numbers of the Australian Gold Kangaroos are quite low compared to other gold bullion coins.
The Australian Gold 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 Silver Coin Sets
Silver Kangaroo Proof Set 2016/17
total silver weight: 1.85 oz
The mintage of this 4-coin proof set that was only issued in 2016 and 2017 was limited to a maximum of 3,000 units in each of these two years. Included are the proof Silver Australian Kangaroos in the denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. The set is packaged in a presentation case and accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity.