Learn About Australian Gold Kangaroo coins
Australian Gold Kangaroo coins were initially released in 1986 as the Australian Gold Nugget. Three years after its initial launch, The Perth Mint decided to switch the design from a gold nugget to a kangaroo, causing the series to generate high public interest. Since this design change in 1990, Australian Gold Kangaroo coins have become one of The Perth Mint’s longest-running series and one of the most highly collected gold coins in the world.
Australian Kangaroo Gold coins feature unique designs. The reverse displays Australian kangaroos in different poses, while the obverse has had the profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II until the 2024 release. The 2024 Gold Kangaroo coin is the first to feature the effigy of King Charles III. Australian Gold Kangaroos are produced in 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 10 oz, and 1 Kilogram weights, perfect for any world coinage collection.
History of Gold in Australia
Most history books will tell you that gold in Australia was discovered at Summerhill Creek near Bathurst, New South Wales in 1851. While this discovery sparked Australia’s largest gold rush and led to a massive increase in the population and significant economic growth, the history of gold goes much further back than this.
The history of gold in Australia can be traced back to 1823, when it was first discovered in the form of nuggets on the banks of the Macquarie River, near Bathurst. However, it would be another 18 years before gold was found in significant quantities.
In 1851, prospector Edward Hargraves made the discovery that led to the Australian Gold Rush. After finding gold in California, Hargraves was confident that he would find the same in Australia. After a few false starts, he finally found gold at Summerhill Creek near Bathurst. The news of his discovery spread quickly. Within just a few months, thousands of people had flocked to the area in search of gold.
Today, gold remains an essential part of the Australian economy, and it is estimated that the Australian gold mining industry employs around 11,000 people directly. The history of gold continues to influence Australia – both in the history books and in the history of money itself.
Birth of the Gold Kangaroo
The history of the Gold Kangaroo goes back to the history of the Australian Gold Nugget coin. It was introduced in 1986 and quickly became a popular gold bullion coin. It was Australia’s first legal tender gold bullion coin, struck from .9999 fine gold, and featured a design inspired by the original gold nugget discovered in Australia.
While the gold nugget was well liked, when the change was made from a gold nugget to a kangaroo in 1990, the popularity of the coin skyrocketed. The first Gold Kangaroo coin featured a design by Dr. Stuart Devlin, an acclaimed artist renowned for his work on coins, including the Australian Lunar series. Due to the history of gold in Australia and the success of the Gold Kangaroo coins, it was decided that gold bullion coins would be produced featuring wildlife other than just the kangaroo, such as the Australian Gold Swans.
The history of Gold Kangaroo goes back to the history of Australia itself. They are considered legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965 and contain 1 troy ounce of .9999 fine gold. The beautiful designs, purity, and history of gold in Australia makes them valuable to collectors and investors around the world.
The Gold Kangaroo Design
In 1990, The Perth Mint changed the design from the original gold nugget discovered in Australia to a kangaroo. The original kangaroo design, created by Dr. Stuart Devlin, featured a kangaroo leaping across a stylized Australian landscape. The Perth Mint has released a variety of designs from multiple different artists of Australian Gold Kangaroos since 1990.
In recent years, the current design of the Australian Gold Kangaroo has changed annually. The 2024 coin was the first one to feature King Charles III since Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022. A profile of Queen Elizabeth II was on the obverse of every coin since the first Gold Nugget coin from 1986.
The classic designs and intrinsic value of their gold content make these coins highly collected by investors and collectors worldwide. They continue to be popular today and make a great addition to any collection or portfolio.
