Silver Perth Mint Coins

Silver Perth Mint Coins at Silver.com

One of the most recognizable and popular mints in the world is the Perth Mint. The Perth Mint opened its doors in 1899 as the last of three colonial branches of the UK’s Royal Mint in Australia, along with the Melbourne Mint and the Sydney Mint. While the other two closed, the Perth Mint remained open and was eventually turned over to the state government of Western Australia. The Perth Mint is now at the forefront of creating some of the world’s most popular silver bullion coins. Learn more about their popular coin programs, right here at Silver.com.

Perth Mint Lunar Series

Most mints release annual lunar-themed bullion. However, the Lunar Series from the Perth Mint is arguably the most popular and well-known. The series started in 1996 with the Year of the Rat and has been issuing new coins every year since.

• Lunar Series I: 1996-2007
• Lunar Series II: 2008-2019
• Lunar Series III: 2020-2031

The obverse features the effigy of the reigning British Monarch while the reverse showcases the lunar animal. Coins issued from 1996 to 2016 have a purity of .999 silver, whereas coins from 2017 and on have a purity of .9999 fine silver. These coins have been issued in several unique sizes over the years. As of 2022, coins are released in these sizes.

• 1/2 Troy oz: 50 cents
• 1 Troy oz: $1
• 2 Troy oz: $2
• 5 Troy oz: $8
• 1 Kilogram: $30
• 10 Kilograms: $300

The series includes not only BU strikes, but proof, gilded, and colorized variations, among others.

Silver Kangaroo Coins

While most annual coin programs from the Perth Mint feature new imagery on the reverse with every issue, Silver Kangaroo Coins features the same image with each release. The reverse features a red kangaroo in left-profile relief, with a sunburst background. The design is based on the 1938 design for the Australian copper penny.

This series is noteworthy as it was the first Perth Mint silver bullion program to have a purity of .9999 fine silver. Coins are issued annually in a 1 oz weight for BU strikes. However, proof, gilded, and colorized coins are also released by the Perth Mint. These strikes are available in bigger sizes such as 2 oz and 5 oz. Proof strikes in this series have been available since 1993, while BU coins weren’t made available until 2015.

Silver Kookaburra Coins

The Perth Mint introduced the Silver Kookaburra series in 1990. This coin program was the first from the Perth Mint to feature a native species. Coins were originally issued with .999 silver but were upgraded to .9999 fine silver in 2018.

In 1990, these coins were issued in just a 1 oz weight. A 1 kilo, 10 oz, and 2 oz options were introduced in 1992. The 2 oz coin was discontinued in 2010. The obverse of these coins showcases the effigy of the reigning British monarch, while the reverse features a new image of the Kookaburra with every new issue.

Silver Koala Coins

Another popular coin program is the Silver Koala Series. The series debuted in 2007 with just a 1 oz coin. A 1 kilogram, 10 oz, and 1/2 oz coin debuted the following year. The 10 oz and 1/2 oz options were discontinued in 2016. Coins were originally issued with a purity of .999 silver but were upgraded to .9999 silver with the 2018 release.

Coins show the image of a koala on the reverse. Similar to the Silver Kookaburra series, the image of the koala changes with every issue. The reigning British monarch is on the obverse of these coins.

Proof strikes, high-relief coins, and incuse high-relief coins are also available in this series.

Obverse Design

The obverse side of the Perth Mint’s annual coin programs features the effigy of the reigning British monarch. Over the years this has included many different designs, such as the following:

• 1985-1998: Queen Elizabeth II designed by Raphael Maklouf.
• 1999-2018: Queen Elizabeth II created by Ian Rank-Broadley
• 2019-2023: Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait by Jody Clark.
• 2024-Present: King Charles II’s effigy by Dan Thorne.

Other Popular Coin Programs

• Silver Emu Coins: This coin program was introduced in 2018. Every year a new image of the emu is on the reverse. Coins are issued in BU strikes and colorized versions.
• Silver Swan Coins: This series debuted in 2017 and releases BU and proof strikes annually. Each new issue shows a new image of a swan on the reverse in .9999 fine silver.
• Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coins: Designed by John Mercanti, these coins feature a new image of the bird with every release. These coins debuted in 2014.

Purchasing Silver Perth Mint Coins at Silver.com

For any inquiries about these Silver Perth Mint Coins or others, contact the Silver.com customer service team today. We can be reached via email, through our online chat feature, or by giving us a call at 1-888-989-7223.