Australian Silver Koala Explained

Denomination:Silver Koala
Country:Australia
Value:1
Unit:Dollar (face value)
Mass G:31.1
Mass Troy Oz:1.0
Diameter Mm:40.6
Diameter Inch:1.52
Thickness Mm:4.0
Thickness Inch:0.157
Edge:Reeded
Years Of Minting:2007-present
Obverse:Australia koala 2020 obverse.png
Obverse Designer:Jody Clark
Obverse Design Date:2015
Reverse:Australia koala 2020 reverse.png
Reverse Design:Koala hanging onto a tree branch
Reverse Design Date:2019

The Silver Koala Bear is a silver coin originating from Australia and produced at the Perth Mint. While the obverse of the coin always depicts Queen Elizabeth II of Australia, the reverse side changes every year, always featuring a koala, a marsupial native to Australia.

The mint updates the monarch's portrait on obverse of the coin periodically. For example, Queen Elizabeth II has six portraits made in the course of her reign. However, only the fourth and sixth portraits were used on silver koalas.[1]

Silver koalas have higher collectible value than some other bullion coins due to the yearly design change and limited production. The coins are minted yearly in up to five different sizes.

Specifications

Specifications[2]
Weight
(troy oz)
Weight
(grams)
Face ValueDiameter
(mm)
Thickness†
(mm)
1002.50AU$30100.6014.60
10312.35AU$1075.608.70
131.14AU$140.604.00
15.650 cents36.602.30
3.13510 cents20.602.00

† This is the maximum thickness. Thicknesses are different based upon the yearly design of the reverse side.

History

In its first year of 2007, only the one-ounce bullion coin was minted. All other sizes were minted in 2008 except for the oz, which started to be produced in 2011. Between 2008 and 2010, the only numismatic or proof coinage minted was the one-ounce with gilded koalas. As of 2020, bullion coins are currently released in 1 kg and 1oz sizes and the numismatic coinage is minted in 5oz and 1oz sizes, with other sizes released occasionally. The coins were .999 fine silver until the 2018 edition, which increased in purity to .9999 silver. Perth Mint originally had no caps on the amount of one-ounce coins produced, but since 2018, it has been capped to 300,000.[3] [4]

Special editions such as privy marked, colored and gilded are often available.[5]

Mintages for
one-ounce bullion coins
YearStandardPrivy marks
2007137,768--
200884,057Fabulous 125,000
2009336,757--
2010233,531--
2011910,480Berlin bear48,920
2012388,046Berlin bear32,361
2013477,209Chinese lettering10,392
2014334,884Chinese lettering8,397
2015450,899--
2016300,000--
2017300,000Kangaroo40,636
Rooster24,940
2018166,434Dog9,200
2019Pig
Mintages for proof coins
Year1 oz5 oz1 kg
2007---
20088,361 (Gilded)--
20095,085 (Gilded)--
20104,842 (Gilded)--
20114,818 (Gilded)5,000-
20124,466 (Gilded)4,178471
9,302 (High relief)
20134,844 (Gilded)5,000333
8,796 (High relief)
20143040 (Gilded)367500
1,211 (High relief)
2,092 (Colored)
20152,186 (Gilded)1,033417
3,791 (High relief)
20162,241 (High relief)952143
20171,730 (High relief)398157
2018135 (High relief)231-

See also

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Search the coin catalogue – Numista . 2023-06-06 . en.numista.com.
  2. Web site: Koala . bullionweb.de . 21 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Bullion coin mintages . Perth Mint . 23 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Numismatic Mintage . Perth Mint . 23 February 2020.
  5. Web site: 2019-01-09 . Everything You Need to Know About Koala Silver Coins (2023 Update) Silver Bullion . 2023-06-06 . www.silverbullion.com.sg . en.