The Australian one kilo gold piece (abbreviated as 1 kg 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 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle series by the Perth Mint, and the fourth design by John M. Mercanti (the series features a new design every year).
The Mint says about it: "A rare masterpiece crafted from 1 kilo of 99.99% pure gold, this flawlessly struck Wedge-tailed Eagle coin is expected to be extremely popular among collectors with a limited mintage of just 10. The Perth Mint’s 1 kilo gold releases are renowned for exceptional quality, assured purity and outstanding value.
The coin’s reverse depicts a magnificent wedge-tailed eagle in flight with wings fully extended and stylised rays of sunlight in the background." |