Jan 2025
Jan 2025
Australian Kangaroo Coin - All You Need to Know
By StoneX Bullion
The Australian Kangaroo coin is a bullion coin produced by the Perth Mint. These coins have a unique origin story – they were first released in 1986 under the name ‘Australian Gold Nugget’. In 1990, the Perth Mint rebranded the coins to more accurately represent the country of Australia and they’ve been a highly regarded and sought-after coin ever since.
Australian Kangaroo coins are produced in gold, silver, and platinum versions. Gold Kangaroo coins are issued in various sizes, from 1/10 oz up to a massive 1 kilo. Silver and Platinum Kangaroo coins are only produced in standard 1 oz sizes. All Kangaroo bullion coins have a face value in Australian Dollars, although their true value is based on the current spot price of the underlying precious metals.
In this blog, we’ll share all you need to know about Gold, Silver, and Platinum Australian Kangaroo coins, including their history, designs, dimensions, precious metals content, and more.
History of the Australian Kangaroo coin
The history of the Australian Kangaroo coin starts with the history of the Gold Nugget. The 1 oz Australian Gold Nugget was Australia’s first legal tender gold bullion coin, introduced by Gold Corp (also known as the Perth Mint) in 1986.
These coins were struck from .9999 fine gold and depicted designs of natural gold nuggets – including the world-famous 2,284-ounce ‘Welcome Stranger’ nugget discovered in Victoria in 1869. Australian Gold Nuggets were widely sought-after for their unique frosted ‘two-tone’ design and limited mintages. The Gold Nugget was also one of the few gold bullion coins that featured changing designs each year, which added semi-numismatic value on top of the precious metal content.
In 1990, the Perth Mint changed the coins’ theme to honour the kangaroo, Australia’s infamous marsupial. It was thought that the kangaroo provided a better representation of the country. While Gold Nuggets were already a popular bullion coin, this change to the kangaroo saw the coins’ popularity skyrocket.
The first issue of the new Gold Kangaroo coins featured designs by famed artist Dr. Stuart Devlin, known for his work on the Australian Lunar coin series. Like the Gold Nugget, the Gold Kangaroo coins feature a new kangaroo-themed design each year, with the exception of the 1 kilo Gold Kangaroo which features the same classic design by Dr. Stuart Devlin. These coins are available in a wide range of sizes, from 1/10 oz up to a colossal 1 kilogram.
In 1993, the Perth Mint responded to growing demand for a high-quality silver bullion coin and released a silver counterpart to the Australian Gold Kangaroo. Until 2014, the Silver Kangaroo bullion coins were struck from .999 fine silver and since 2015 they’ve been produced from .9999 fine silver. In 2017, a platinum version of the Kangaroo Coin was released, struck from .9995 pure platinum. Unlike the gold versions of the coins, the Silver and Platinum Kangaroos feature the same design each year except for select special editions.
Today, the Australian Gold, Silver, and Platinum Kangaroo coins are some of the most widely collected bullion coins in the world and largely considered a classic.
See Similar: The South African Gold Krugerrand - All You Need to Know
Australian Kangaroo coin design
The Australian Gold Kangaroo coin is one of the few gold bullion coins that features a changing design each year. It’s also one of the few bullion coins to have started with a completely different theme and design.
Below, we look at the different designs featured on Australian Gold Nugget and Gold Kangaroo coins throughout the years.
Australian Gold Nugget designs
The first Australian Gold Nugget coins featured designs honouring Australia’s gold-mining heritage. Each year, these coins were issued with a new design depicting a significant gold nugget found in Australian history:
- 1986: The first issue of the Australian Gold Nugget depicted the ‘Welcome Stranger’ nugget, the largest gold nugget ever found on earth weighing 2,284 ounces.
- 1987: The second release featured the ‘Hand of Faith’ nugget, discovered in Victoria in 1980.
- 1988: This year showcased the ‘Golden Eagle’ nugget which was unearthed in Western Australia in 1931.
- 1989: The final Gold Nugget release featured the ‘Little Hero’ nugget, which was discovered in Victoria in 1890.
The obverse of all Gold Nugget bullion coins depicted a profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Arnold Machin.
Australian Gold Kangaroo designs
The first Australian Gold Kangaroo coin, released in 1990, was designed by Dr. Stuart Devlin, a renowned artist, goldsmith, and jeweller to HM Queen Elizabeth II. This design featured a kangaroo leaping across a stylised Australian landscape.
Since then, each year’s release of the Gold Kangaroo has featured a new design, always honouring the kangaroo and Australia’s diverse landscapes. In 2018, the coins were also issued with a new security feature in the form of a micro-laser engraved letter visible only under magnifying glass.
The obverse of the Gold Kangaroo coins features the profile of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Until 2023, the coins featured the Queen’s effigy designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and Jody Clark. Since 2024, they have featured the effigy of King Charles III.
How big is an Australian Kangaroo coin?
Australian Gold Kangaroo coins are available in sizes ranging from 1/10 oz up to 1 kilogram, while Silver and Platinum Kangaroos are only produced in a standard 1 oz size. Below, we look at the weight and dimensions of Australian Gold, Silver, and Platinum Kangaroo coins.
See: What are the Best Gold Coins to Buy and Why? From Kruggerands to Maple Leafs
How big is a Gold Australian Kangaroo?
Australian Gold Kangaroos are available in 5 sizes: 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz, 1 oz, and 1 kilogram, catering to a diverse range of investors. Every Gold Kangaroo coin is struck from .9999 fine gold regardless of their size.
The below table shows the size, weight, and dimensions of Gold Kangaroo coins:
SIZE | WEIGHT (GRAMS) | DIAMETER (MM) | THICKNESS (MM) |
1/10 oz | 3.11 | 16.10 | 1.50 |
¼ oz | 7.78 | 20.60 | 2.00 |
½ oz | 15.55 | 25.10 | 2.40 |
1 oz | 31.10 | 32.60 | 2.80 |
1 kilo | 1,000 | 100.60 | 14.50 |
How big is an Australian Silver Kangaroo coin?
Australian Silver Kangaroo coins are available in a single size of 1 oz. These coins contain exactly 1 troy ounce (31.10 grams) of .9999 fine silver and have a diameter of 40.60 mm and a thickness of 3.20 mm.
Keep Reading: Troy Ounce: Definition, History, and Conversion Table
How big is an Australian Platinum Kangaroo coin?
Australian Platinum Kangaroo coins are available only in a standard 1 oz size. Each coin is made from .9995 pure platinum, with a diameter of 32.60 mm and a thickness of 2.70 mm.
How much is an Australian Kangaroo coin worth?
The standard 1 oz Australian Gold Kangaroo coin has a face value of $100 AUD, although its true value is far greater than that. Gold Kangaroo coins are valued based on their gold content, so to determine how much it’s really worth you’ll need to look at the current gold spot price.
The below table shows the face value of different sized Australian Kangaroo Gold coins.
GOLD KANGAROO COIN SIZE | FACE VALUE |
1/10 oz | $15 AUD (pre-2021, 1/10 oz Gold Kangaroos had a face value of $10) |
¼ oz | $25 AUD |
½ oz | $50 AUD |
1 oz | $100 AUD |
1 kilo | $3,000 AUD |
To find out how much an Australian Gold Kangaroo coin is worth, you can multiply its weight by the current gold spot price.
Read More: Gold Purity, Fineness, And Karat – What Is It And How To Check It
1 oz Australian Silver Kangaroo coins have a face value of $1 while the 1 oz Australian Platinum Kangaroo coin has a face value of $100. As with gold, however, the real value of these coins is determined on the spot price of the underlying precious metal.
Why should you invest in Australian Kangaroo coins?
Beyond the intrinsic value of their precious metals content, the Australian Kangaroo coin series offers limited-edition designs with exceptional purity and global recognition. These coins make an excellent investment for many reasons:
High purity
Australian Kangaroo coins are minted from .9999 fine gold or silver and .9995 platinum, making them amongst the purest bullion coins available on the market. This high purity provides maximum intrinsic value, which makes these coins an excellent option for investors seeking a reliable store of wealth.
Diversification
Investing in Australian Kangaroo coins is one way investors can diversify their portfolios with precious metals. Whether gold, silver, or platinum, each of these metals offers unique investment potential. For example, gold has long been considered a valuable hedge against inflation and a safe haven asset during periods of economic instability.
Semi-numismatic value
Australian Gold Kangaroo coins feature a new design each year, which adds a semi-numismatic appeal that many other bullion coins don’t have. This means they could potentially generate value beyond their intrinsic metal content.
Anti-counterfeiting security features
Every Australian Kangaroo coin is produced with advanced security features, including a micro-laser engraved letter embedded within the design. These features help ensure authenticity, which can provide peace of mind for investors both buying and selling these coins.
Global recognition
Australian Kangaroo coins are widely recognised and traded by bullion enthusiasts worldwide. Their association with the Perth Mint, considered one of the most prestigious mints in the world, adds to their reputation and liquidity.
Keep Reading: Why Buy Gold? Reasons to Invest in Physical Gold Bullion
Buy Australian Kangaroo coins online
Australian Kangaroo coins are some of the most sought-after bullion coins in the world, blending exceptional purity with unique designs and global recognition. These coins are available in gold, silver, and platinum, making them a versatile investment option that can add value to any precious metals portfolio.
If you’d like to start investing in Australian Kangaroo coins, you’re in the right place. At StoneX Bullion, we stock Gold Kangaroo, Silver Kangaroo, and Platinum Kangaroo coins from various years of issue. Our prices are automatically updated each minute so you can browse confidently knowing you're shopping at the most current precious metals spot price rate.
Browse our range of Australian Kangaroo and other bullion coins and start growing your wealth today.