The Australian five ounces gold piece (abbreviated as 5 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.
Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used.
This coin is part of the long-running Australian Kangaroo bullion coin series by the Perth Mint, and is a "numismatic" issue with a one-year design.
The Mint says about it: Bounding unrestrained across Australia’s wide-open plains for millions of years, the kangaroo is Australia’s most widely recognised animal symbol. Since 1989 it has graced our signature coin series in a stunning series of annual portrayals that have fascinated enthusiasts all over the world. Incorporating The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, the coin’s reverse design depicts a kangaroo and its young joey. Flawlessly struck in proof quality, the animals are framed between two grass trees - native Australian plants renowned for their ability to survive bush fires. |