Gold Ounce Perth Mint Oriana Bar, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Australia has two mints, the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint, which are both very active in the bullion coinage space; coins issued by them are legal tender.

Additionally, there are private issuers of bullion which is not legal tender and is targeted at investors and not at coin collectors - such as this one.

The Perth Mint Oriana 1oz gold bar was originally minted from 2006-2010 and was produced to rival the PAMP Fortuna gold bar design. It came in older style “Certicard” packaging. In 2015, the Perth Mint did one more special release of the Oriana bar in the newer Certicard packaging.

The tale of Oriana originates in the romantic novels of the 15th and 16th centuries, particularly from a three-book collection written by an unknown Spanish author in the 15th century.

Oriana is a fictional character in these tales said to be the heir to the throne of Great Britain. In a fourth book added to the series and written by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo, Oriana finds a love interest in Amadis. Montalvo wrote "Amadis de Gaula" as the fourth book featuring Oriana. The work was published in Zaragoza in 1508 and focuses on a golden-haired woman of immense beauty.

Now, the obverse of the 1 oz Perth Mint Gold Bar revives this popular design with a new vision of Oriana. The beautiful Oriana is depicted sitting down with a bouquet of flowers in her grasp and her head looking down at the flowers. There are no other designs or engravings on this side, only the image of Oriana.