Australian Koala 2009 Gilded Edition 1oz Silver Coin

General Coin Information

As part of the third year of designs for a continuing coin series, the Perth Mint has released the Australian Koala 2009 Gilded Edition 1oz Silver Coin. The Perth started the silver koala series in 2007 and started offering them in a gilded version in 2008.

The first year's obverse design included a koala clinging to a tree branch. In 2008, the design was changed to portray a mother and her joey (young) sitting on a tree branch. This year, the design features a single young koala facing out while sitting on a branch.

Koalas are one the few iconic symbols strongly associated with Australia. They are indigenous only to Australia where they spend most of their live 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.

Wrongly considered a bear by most, the koala is actually a marsupial. The females have a pouch in which they carry and nurse their young. The koala portray an image of cuddliness, but with long sharp claws for climbing they can be quite vicious if provoked.

If available, this coin may be purchased online from the following Perth Mint page:

Australian Koala 2009 Gilded Silver Coin

Obverse Design

Ian Rank-Broadley current portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is shown on the obverse. Also included are the inscriptions "Queen Elizabeth II", "Australia" and "1 Dollar".

Reverse Design

A young koala sitting on a branch is portrayed on the reverse. It has been gilded with 24 carat gold utilizing state of the art technology to highlight the Australian icon. A shimmer background is seen behind the koala. The Perth Mints mintmark is hidden on the branch.

Gilded Koala Coin Specifications

Mint: Perth Mint of Australia    Mintmark: P    Metal Content: .999 pure silver    Weight: 1 oz    Minimum Gross Weight: 31.135 g    Diameter: 40.60 mm    Thickness: 4 mm    Edge: Reeded    Release Date: 12 January 2009    Mintage Limits: 10,000    Issue Price: AUS $72.73    Face Value: AUS $1    Obverse Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

Gilded Koala Coin Auctions

Gilded Koala Coin Resources

• Mint information page
• Additional coin information - CoinNews.net
• Silver Coins