2011 Gilded Koala Silver Coin Available

The 2011 Australian Gilded Koala Silver Coin is now available from the Perth Mint of Australia, continuing a series of strikes with a unique twist on the highly sought after silver coins.

To accomplish the eye-catching design element, the Perth Mint uses state-of-the-art technology to apply a precision 24-karat gilding to the koalas shown on the piece. And since the 2011 coin contains images of two, both are gilded.

Specifically, the design shows an adult resting in the fork of a eucalyptus tree as its young is depicted climbing up one of the branches of the fork. This same design may be found on the associated koala silver coins, but obviously minus the gilding.

The 2011 Gilded Koala Silver Coin is the fourth annual strikes in the program to contain the 24-karat enhancement. The Perth Mint started this limited mintage piece in 2008 based on its popular koala coins which debuted themselves one year earlier. Both series feature annually changing reverse designs with the gilded series adding gold to the koalas depicted.

In 2008, an adult was shown with its offspring hanging carefully from its back. In 2009, a single young koala was portrayed holding onto an upper limb with its front paws. Last year’s 2010 strike showed one of the marsupials clinging to a eucalyptus branch as it feasted on the fresh leaves it had to offer.

Making the 2011 gilded issue more unique is a new inscription not present on the previous strikes. It simply states "AUSTRALIAN KOALA" above the scene of the marsupials. Underneath the creatures is the standard inscription of "2011 1oz 999 SILVER."

The silver coins are legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965 and feature a face value of $1 AUS. The obverse of each show Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by the inscriptions of "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA" and "1 DOLLAR."

The Perth Mint has placed an extremely limited mintage on these gilded coins, unlike the standard silver versions on which they are based. Its cap on the 2011 Gilded Koala Silver Coin is only 10,000.

Each 2011 coin resides in a special charcoal presentation case and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity in an illustrated shipper. The coins are available directly from the Perth Mint (http://www.perthmint.com.au/) for $90.45 AUS.

 

 

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint is wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia and is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Royal Mint of England opened this branch of its operations in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint with the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both of which are now closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1970 when it was transferred to the State Government of Western Australia. Since then it has become a premier institution for gold refinery and gold coin and gold coin blank production along with world renowned silver operations.