Silver Ounce 2018 Australian Kookaburra, Bullion, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion and commemorative 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.

The Australian Silver Kookaburra series - to which this coin belongs - was introduced in 1990 by the Perth Mint; subsequently, the Royal Australian Mint also started issuing silver Kookaburra bullion coins. The coins have legal tender status in Australia and are one of very few legal tender bullion silver coins to change their design every year, always featuring a kookaburra - a bird native to Australia. This and their limited annual mintage may, unlike for many other bullion coins, raise their numismatic value over the value of silver used.

Perth Mint’s annual interpretations of the Australian Kookaburra have been highly sought after since the launch of the resoundingly successful 1oz bullion coin in 1990. The spectacular entry of that release into worldwide markets prompted the first proof issue a year later.

For 2018 the iconic Australian bird has been depicted with impeccable attention to detail in full flight against the backdrop of a harvest moon. The design brilliantly celebrates how the kookaburras’ distinctive call is often heard at dusk when the moon is rising and the birds are roosting for the night, or at daybreak as they awake.