2009 Australian Koala Gold Proof Coin Launched

The Perth Mint of Australia announced on Tuesday the world-wide launch of the second proof issue from its renowned Australian Koala Gold Coin Series, the 2009 Koala Gold Proof Coin.

This year the design features an eye-catching image of a young koala facing out while sitting on a branch eating gum leaves.

Koalas are one the few iconic symbols strongly associated with Australia. They are indigenous only to Australia where they spend most of their life high up in Eucalyptus trees eating leaves. Most animals find the Eucalyptus leaves toxic, but the koala has developed the ability to digest them safely.

Koalas are protected by the government of Australia, but that has not always been the case. They were hunted almost to extinction for their fur, a practice which is now against the law. In fact, it is illegal to even have possession of a koala, except in special circumstances such as healing a wound.

Koala coin design, specifications, prices and order information

The 2009 Australian legal tender coins are struck from 99.99 percent pure gold, issued in 2 oz, 1 oz, 1/10 oz and 1/25 oz sizes, and have respective strict mintage limits of 250, 2000, 5000 and 15000.

In addition to the cuddly Koala, the reverse or tails side of the coin features the Perth Mint "P" mint mark, the size, "9999" for purity and "GOLD".

The obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2009 year-date and the monetary denomination.

Additionally, the 1 oz coin is struck in high relief.

According to the Mint, each coin is housed in a luxury presentation case with a jarrah timber lid. Each display case comes in a custom-designed shipper accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

For more information or to place an order from nearly anywhere in the world, visit the Perth Mint page via the CoinNews affiliate link:

Australian Koala 2009 Gold Proof Coin Series

*Note: the 1 oz and 2oz coins are not available for sale in the US.

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint - the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.

In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.