Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin

For decades, Australia’s Perth Mint has been a domineering force on the bullion market. Their coins are often favorites for collectors all over the world, and the mint’s attention to detail is matched by very few precious metal distributors on the planet. Despite the mint’s massive inventory of beautiful coins, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin is tough to beat. 

First minted in 1986, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin has competed with some of the most popular coins in the world. Even at its very inception, the coin’s unique design and tone made it a massive hit among investors, and interest hasn’t waned yet in the decades-long minting run of Australia’s best-selling gold coin. What makes the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin a good investment? We’re walking readers through everything they need to know about the gold coin’s history, specification, and investment potential in today’s Hero Bullion guide. 

History of the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin

Some collectors might not recall that the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin wasn’t always known as the “Gold Kangaroo.” In the initial few years of its release, this pure gold piece was actually referred to as an Australian Gold Nugget Coin. Until 1989, the coin didn’t feature the classic kangaroo design on its reverse. Instead, it included a large gold nugget, an homage to Australia’s history of gold mining. 

Following the release of the 1989 Australian Gold Nugget, mint experts decided to permanently change the design to reflect an even more classic symbol of Australia: the Australian kangaroo. Since then, the coin’s reverse design has always featured the kangaroo, one of Australia’s most recognizable native animals. We’ll get into the specifics of this beautiful reverse-side design later in our guide. For now, investors should know that the kangaroo depiction we’ve come to love wasn’t always a feature of Australia’s popular bullion coinage. 

Origin and Design

The first Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin was released in 1986 by the Perth Mint. By some metrics, it was a relatively standard gold coin. Containing a gold fineness of .9999, it allowed investors to purchase quality gold from the Perth Mint without compromising on purity and strength of design. But the coin also had an added feature: the two-tone frosted effect. This resulted in a unique look and feel, and investors fell in love. 

Initially, the reverse of the coin highlighted the Australian gold nugget, which led to the coin’s original name. But the 1989 release of the Australian Kangaroo version of the coin was so popular that the Perth Mint decided to retain the designs in future editions of the popular Australian coin. Today, the coins feature varying designs that depict the same familiar animal. 

Historical Context

In 1986, global gold coinage had taken off as a popular investment vehicle. The stunning success of the South African Gold Krugerrand had led to the production of several popular gold coins, including the Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coin. In the years following these breakout bullion pieces, other mints tried to grab onto this popularity with their own quality gold coins. Cue: the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin. Cashing in on the explosive sales enjoyed by other sovereign mints, Perth Mint successfully celebrated Australian culture with their own gold bullion coin. 

Notable Releases

Throughout its minting history, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin has experienced a number of quality, unique releases. The one ton Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin broke records for becoming one of the largest gold coins in history. But this isn’t the only limited edition Australian Gold Coin to make headlines. The 1 kilo Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin also impressed investors and carried an impressive face value of over $3,000 in 1992. 

Investors sometimes forget that sovereign mints are still companies, despite their close association with the governments of the world. Because companies need to get positive press in order to exceed sales productions, it makes sense to occasionally market notable, one-of-a-kind releases for popular gold coins. The Perth Mint’s distribution of exceedingly rare and large editions of their Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin helps to create buzz for one of the world’s most respected gold coin manufacturers. 

Specifications 

Consumers should always understand the specifications of a gold coin before they invest. Luckily, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin has quite a bit to offer investors. Below, we’ll take a look at the coin’s weight and size, composition and purity, obverse and reverse designs, face value, and rarity. By the end of this section, you should better comprehend the specifics of Australia’s record-breaking gold bullion coin. 

Coin Weight and Size

Unlike many of the world’s coins, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin has always been minted in both full and fractional weights. Generally, the coin is distributed in full one ounce, 1/20, 1/10, ¼, and ½ weights. Perhaps even more importantly to investors looking to secure as much gold bullion as possible for their money, the gold coin is also available in 2 oz, 10 oz, and massive 1 kg variations. This large variation of sizes helps make the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin a continued favorite for collectors all over the world. 

Regardless of your budget, it’s likely that the Perth Mint has released a Gold Kangaroo perfect for your needs and wants. 

Composition and Purity 

Since 1986, the coin has been minted using .9999 fine gold bullion. This purity remains static – regardless of the size of the coin you choose to purchase. Most of our gold coins from around the world feature this kind of purity, so it isn’t exactly rare. However, it’s important to note that some of the coinage sector’s favorite coins include a lower purity. The American Gold Eagle, for example, offers a fineness of only .9167. The high gold purity makes our Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins a premier investment vehicle for collectors who prioritize fine gold content in their coins. 

Obverse and Reverse Designs 

Until very recently, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin has featured an unchanging obverse depiction. Because the Australian mint system was once run by Great Britain, their coins permanently feature England’s current monarch on the front side. Since 1986, this has been Queen Elizabeth II. She ages with the coin, so expect her appearance to change slightly over the course of the Australian Gold Kangaroo Coin’s minting run. 

This will likely change for future releases of the coin. The 2023 Australian Gold Kangaroo Coin included the familiar depiction of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, but with one notable change. Instead of the year of the coin, the 2023 Gold Kangaroo featured the Queen’s reign, which ended with her death in 2022. The Australian Perth Mint will continue to depict British monarchs on its obverse. But following the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 of this year, he will appear on future releases of the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin. 

Face Value

Like most government-issued gold coins, the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin features different face values depending on their weight. The smallest coin in the series is the 1/20 oz Gold Kangaroo, which carries a face value of $5 AUD. Face values increase as we go up in weight. The largest coin ever minted is the 1 ton Australian Gold Kangaroo, which displays an impressive face value of $1,000,000 AUD. For regular coins produced yearly, the highest face value we’ve seen is the $1,000 AUD 10 oz Australian Gold Kangaroo. 

Face value is often immaterial, especially when it comes to gold coins. In simpler terms, we don’t think most collectors would ever part with their 10 troy ounce gold coin for a measly $1,000 AUD. Instead, these coins generally sell for a large premium over their already high gold melt value. How much is an Australian Gold Kangaroo actually worth? The answer to this question depends on the current spot price of gold, as well as general market demand and numismatics. 

Rarity and Grading 

How rare is the Australian Gold Kangaroo? While the coin isn’t exactly minted in the millions, it isn’t usually particularly rare. Some years, mintages for the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin are limited to only 350,000. Mintage figures can vary based on a number of factors, and collecting Australian gold coins from low mintage years can be a great way to build numismatic value into your gold bullion collection. 

Collecting and Investing 

The sustained popularity of Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins among collectors makes them a common addition to modern bullion investment portfolios – and with good reason! These coins have a long history of excellence, and their high gold purity makes them a great choice for gold bullion stackers. If you’re considering an investment in Australian Gold Kangaroos, we’re here to help. Below, we’ll discuss four things that new Australian gold investors should know: collectability factors, market trends, preservation and storage, and authentication and certification. 

Collectability Factors

The high collectability of the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin is to thank for much of its success. It isn’t just about the beauty of the coin’s obverse and reverse designs. Each year, the coin’s reverse design changes. For savvy collectors, this functionally means that you’ll receive a unique coin year after year. Coins from certain years may also be numismatically valuable, and collectors looking to establish a full portfolio may pay extra for these rare releases. 

But it wouldn’t be fair to discount the beauty of the Australian Gold Kangaroo. Its obverse celebrates the country’s historic relationship with Great Britain and its monarchy. On the reverse, a beautiful depiction of Australia’s most recognizable animal makes this coin an important cultural bullion piece. 

Diversifying your portfolio with a wide range of different Australian Gold Kangaroos is an excellent way to improve profitability. It’s never a bad idea to target investment-grade bullion coins with high numismatic value, and the Australian Gold Nugget certainly fits this bill. 

Market Trends

Market trends are a bit harder to predict. We do anticipate that the final Queen-type Australian Gold Kangaroo will become more popular in the next decade. The reason for this prediction is pretty simple: this is the last coin in a long series that will feature the late Queen Elizabeth II. Future coins will still emphasize the importance of Britain’s monarch to the history and culture of Australia, but the 2023 Australian Kangaroo is the last coin in the series that will feature the beloved former Queen of England. 

Preservation and Storage

Storing and preserving your coins is an important part of the investment process. While Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins are always a hit among collectors, coins kept in a condition below near-perfect are sure to lose value over time. We highly recommend keeping your coins in a temperature-controlled safe. As the value of your investment portfolio rises, it might be prudent to consider putting your bullion products in a more expensive safe. 

Always check with your homeowners insurance provider before investing in expensive gold coins. Some companies might not insure the total value of your collection. If this is the case, then you might be out of luck when an emergency or natural disaster happens. Although our favorite part of investing is finding, buying, and checking our quality gold bullion coins, we can’t overstate the importance of proper storage and insurance. 

Authentication and Certification 

Counterfeiting is a multi-million dollar industry. Each year, investors lose money because of fake coins masquerading as the real deal. We don’t want this to happen to you. Always make sure to do business with authorized dealers, and carefully check your coins to make sure that they don’t come with imperfections or unintended errors. If your coin diverges from the norm of what it should look like, consider having it evaluated to confirm its authenticity. 

Final Thoughts: Investing in Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins

Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins have taken the bullion world by storm since their inception in 1986. For decades, investors have loved the cultural depictions, high gold purity, and collectability of the Perth Mint’s most popular gold coin. 

Hero Bullion offers a wide range of Australian Gold Kangaroos to help you build and expand your collection. If you have any more questions about these coins, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team. 

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