| Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Australian Koala |
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The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints independently 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 Koala series by the Perth Mint comes in several sizes and compositions: 1 kg silver, 5 oz silver, 1 oz silver numismatic (proof, high relief) and 1 oz silver bullion. The Royal Australian Mint also issues silver Kookaburra bullion coins.
The reverse design changes every year, always featuring a koala - one of the most famous and distinctive animals native to Australia. The silver ounce coins have a face value of 1 dollar, but this is only symbolic - as the bullion value of their precious metal content is much higher. The coins were .999 fine silver until the 2018 edition, which increased in purity to .9999 silver. The overall weight is slightly more than an ounce, so that the pure silver content is exactly 1.000 ASW (troy ounce Absolute Silver Weight).
The 2023 design of the Australian Koala series portrays a koala climbing a tree with a dependent young "joey" clinging to its back for security |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage | unknown |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown and the Victoria Coronation necklace worn for her Coronation. This is her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide and "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, in "uncouped" version - showing the Queen's shoulders and not terminating at the neck as the normal version.
On the left, in small letters on the Queen's shoulder, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022 AUSTRALIA · 1 DOLLAR ·.
The legend is interrupted by the "memorial" inclusion of the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin’s reverse depicts a koala climbing a tree, with her baby (called a "joey") riding on her back.
On the left, the Perth Mint's mint mark P. On the tree trunk, to the right of the koala, the designer's initials IJ, for Ing Ing Jong.
Around above left, the date of issue and the precious metal content: 2023 1oz 9999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver). Around above right, the inscription KOALA |
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| Reverse Inscription |
2023 1oz 9999 SILVER KOALA |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 1.000
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated, with lightly frosted surfaces.
Packaging: in a protective acrylic capsule.
Perth Mint SKU: 23027DAAX
Date of issue: 1 March 2023.
Issue price: AU$ 40.84
For additional peace of mind, the coin incorporates an authentication feature in the form of a micro-laser engraved letter. Detectable under a magnifying glass, it’s designed to make it significantly more difficult for the coin to be counterfeited.
The coins were issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as his effigy was not expected to be approved for use in Australia until late in the year, they feature a "memorial" obverse with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the dates of her reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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