Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's currency features some of the country's most iconic and treasured animals. The country's coins showcase a variety of native fauna, from the kangaroo on the one-dollar coin to the emu and kangaroo on the fifty-cent piece. The platypus, a unique creature with a duck-like beak and webbed feet, can be found on the twenty-cent coin. The koala, a beloved symbol of Australia, makes a cameo on the 2004 student design fifty-cent coin and the two-hundred-dollar gold coin. Other animal-themed collector coins include the kookaburra, stock horse, swan, and wedge-tailed eagle, offering a glimpse into Australia's rich biodiversity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Animals appearing on the Australian coins | Platypus, Emu, Kangaroo, Koala, Wombat, Lorikeet, Feather-tailed glider, Frilled-neck lizard, Kookaburra, Stock horse, Swan, Wedge-tailed eagle |
| Obverse side | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Twenty cent coin | Platypus |
| Fifty cent coin | Australian coat of arms with an Emu and a Kangaroo |
| One dollar coin | Kangaroo |
| Two hundred dollar coin | Koala |
| Two cent coin | Frilled neck lizard |
| One cent coin | Feather-tailed glider |
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Kangaroos on coins
Australia's coin currency features some of its most celebrated animal icons. One of the most famous animals associated with Australia is the kangaroo, which appears on the reverse side of the Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin. These coins are minted by The Perth Mint in Western Australia, which operates Australia's largest gold refinery and is one of the world's largest gold refineries.
The Gold Kangaroo is a series of gold bullion coins that have been minted by The Perth Mint since 1986. The coins feature a design of a kangaroo, which changes each year, and an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. The original design featured a hopping kangaroo and the year of its minting, while the current design showcases a kangaroo in motion with a background of rays of sunlight. The design is changed annually, except for the years 1987 to 1989 when the design remained unchanged.
The current design is by Aleysha Howarth, an Australian artist and designer whose design was chosen from over 200 entries in a competition held by the Perth Mint in 2018. Howarth's design depicts a kangaroo in motion, with rays of sunlight emanating from behind it, capturing the energy and spirit of the kangaroo, an iconic symbol of Australia. The Gold Kangaroo coins are available in various sizes, ranging from 1/20 oz to 1 kg, catering to different budgets, investment goals, and personal preferences.
The Australian Kangaroo Gold Coins are renowned worldwide for their quality, beauty, and craftsmanship. Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure gold and individually packaged in hard plastic capsules, showcasing the creativity and attention to detail of the Perth Mint. The annual design changes, high purity, and association with one of Australia's beloved animals make the Gold Kangaroo a popular choice for investors and collectors.
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Koalas on coins
Australia's coin currency features some of the country's most treasured animal icons. Koalas, one of Australia's most iconic animals, are featured on the country's silver and gold coins. The Australian Koala coin series is struck in both silver and gold and is available in various sizes, ranging from 1/4 ounce to one whole kilogram. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse features a koala in a different pose each year.
The Perth Mint, which produces the Koala coins, originally had no cap on the number of one-ounce coins produced. However, since 2018, it has been limited to 300,000. The 2017 release features a lone koala clutching the trunk of a eucalyptus tree, while the 2018 coin portrays a koala carrying its baby. The 2018 coin was also the first Perth Mint Koala coin to be struck in two full ounces of .9999 fine silver.
The Australian Koala coin series offers something for every collection, with proof and uncirculated strikes available in both gold and silver. The series has been running for 14 years and features the less-than-cuddly marsupial in a range of designs. The coins are known for their quality art, adorable creatures, and incredible coinage.
Koala coins are popular among collectors and animal lovers alike. They are available for purchase from various sources, including GovMint.com and eBay, making it easy for anyone to start or add to an Australian Koala Coin collection.
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Platypuses on coins
Platypuses are one of Australia's most intriguing wild creatures. They have webbed feet like those of a duck and resemble an American beaver. The Platypus is depicted on the reverse side of the Australian Platinum Platypus coin, swimming underwater with vegetation commonly found in Australian rivers and lakes, where the platypus is most often sighted. The obverse side of the coin features a depiction of Queen Elizabeth II. The coin was first minted in 2011 by the Perth Mint of Australia and has been one of the most sought-after platinum coins in the world. With a high purity and beautiful design, it is no wonder this coin is so popular. The reverse side of the coin, designed by Natasha Muhl, depicts the famous duck-billed platypus, which calls the fresh waters of Australia home.
The Australian Platinum Platypus coin has a face value of $100 AUD and weighs one troy ounce. It is made with pure platinum and is available in uncirculated condition. The obverse includes an image of Queen Elizabeth II, with the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II", "AUSTRALIA", and "100 DOLLARS". The reverse features the Platypus, with the inscriptions "AUSTRALIAN PLATYPUS", the issue year, and "1 OZ .9995 PLATINUM".
The Platypus coin is a unique and beautiful addition to any coin collection, featuring one of Australia's most beloved and intriguing animals. The design captures the playful nature of the platypus, a treasured icon in Australia, and showcases the beauty of the country's freshwater ecosystems.
The Platypus coin also serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation and protecting Australia's unique wildlife. The platypus is a unique species found only in Australia, and its presence on the coin celebrates the country's natural heritage and the need to preserve it for future generations. The coin not only holds monetary value but also educational and cultural value, highlighting the rich biodiversity of Australia and the importance of environmental awareness.
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Emus on coins
Australia's coin currency features some of the country's most treasured animal icons. One such animal is the emu, which is Australia's largest bird. Emus are unique birds that are unable to fly, but they can sprint at speeds of 30 mph in the open Outback, outrunning many predators. Emus are incredibly adaptable and capable of surviving the harsh landscape of the Outback.
The Perth Mint offers animal-themed collector coins featuring the emu, which are popular with collectors. The Australian Silver Emu Coin is one such coin, with a limited mintage of only 30,000 coins. The coin contains 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure silver in BU condition and bears a face value of $1 (AUD) backed by the federal government of Australia.
The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed in 2015 by Jody Clark. This is the sixth-generation effigy to feature on Australian coins. The Queen is depicted in right-profile relief at the age of 89, wearing the George IV State Diadem Crown.
The reverse design of the coin depicts two emus near a body of water. The 2022 version of the coin features two images of the emu from different perspectives. The foreground image shows the right-profile of the emu's elegant neck and small head, while the background features a full-length image of the emu in left-profile relief. This side of the coin also includes a micro-laser engraved letter visible only under magnification, serving as a security element.
The Australian Silver Emu Coin is available for purchase individually inside protective capsules. Multiples can be purchased in sealed rolls of 20 coins or mint-sealed boxes of 100 coins.
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Wombats on coins
Australia's coin currency features some of the country's most treasured animal icons. These include the emu, kangaroo, koala, kookaburra, stock horse, swan, and wedge-tailed eagle.
One of Australia's iconic marsupials, the wombat, is also featured on the country's coins. The Perth Mint offers a 1oz silver bullion coin that portrays a wombat dozing amid flowering billy buttons with a blue fairywren perched on its back. The reverse side of the coin includes the inscription 'WOMBAT', The Perth Mint's 'P' mintmark, the coin's weight, purity, and the year date 2023. The coin also features an authentication measure in the form of a micro-laser engraved letter that is only detectable under a magnifying glass.
The 2023 Australian Silver Wombat Coin also features a memorial design of Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse, with a Jody Clark portrait from 2015 as its basis. The design includes a right-profile effigy of the Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem, along with date marks from 1952-2022 to celebrate her reign.
The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world and is perfectly built for tunnelling with its powerful limbs and claws. They also have a unique defence mechanism, known as the "wombat wallup", where they use their hard and thick buttocks to crush predators against the roof of their burrow or a rock wall. Unfortunately, wombats are listed as vulnerable or endangered due to habitat loss, road accidents, and disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia’s coin currency features some of the country's most treasured animal icons. These include the kangaroo, koala, emu, kookaburra, stock horse, swan, and wedge-tailed eagle. The platypus appears on the reverse of the twenty cent coin and the Australian fifty cent coin features the country's coat of arms, which includes an emu and a kangaroo.
The 2004 50 cent coin features a koala, a wombat, and a lorikeet.
Yes, Australian coins also feature non-animal designs. For example, the two dollar coin represents an archetype of an Aboriginal tribal elder, and the Royal Australian Mint has released coins commemorating various events, such as the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and Remembrance Day.
