| Coin | Platinum Kilo 1991 Australian Koala |
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The Australian one kilogram (1kg) platinum piece is a very large 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.
The overall weight of the coins is slightly over a kilo, so as (accounting for the purity of the alloy) to have exactly 1,000 grams of platinum content.
This is the first coin in the Australian Koala series in this size. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she used to wear on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.
Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
Around, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · 10,000 DOLLARS ·.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design of the coin depicts a koala clinging to a gum tree (eucalyptus).
Around the rim, the name of the series: THE AUSTRALIAN KOALA, followed by the precious metal content: 1 KILO 9995 PLATINUM (one kilogram of 99.95% platinum).
Around below, the date of issue · 1991 ·. In small letters in the lower left, the initials of the designer, JB (for John Bergdahl).
The Perth Mint's P mint mark is on the base of the tree, above the date. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THE AUSTRALIAN KOALA 1 KILO 9995 PLATINUM · 1991 · |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Note that most sources show the reverse design as being the same as next year's bullion coins and not as the 1991 bullion range. However, the 10oz and the 2oz proofs for 1991 have the same design as the bullion coins, and we suppose this was also true for the one-kilo piece. We have not been able to find an actual image of the 1991 platinum kilo coin. |
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