The Perth Mint of Australia treads into new territory with the release of the 2012 Australian Kookaburra 1 oz Silver Proof High Relief Coin. Never before has the Perth Mint released a Kookaburra Silver Coin in high relief.
Shown on the reverse of the strike is the image of a kookaburra bird, a species native to Australia and nearby New Guinea. Despite being indigenous to only those two countries, the kookaburra is recognized by many around the world for its call which resembles human laughter. [click to continue…]
What image could be more emblematic of Canada than the maple leaf? With that in mind, it is not surprising that the Royal Canadian Mint has opted to continue a series that debuted last year featuring designs of the leaf on their reverse.
The newest coins to appear in that series, the 2012 Maple Leaf Forever Coins, are struck from varying sizes of gold and silver. These strikes have been recently released by the Mint and are purchasable now from the Mint. [click to continue…]
The Royal Canadian Mint last week unveiled new $1 and $2 circulation coins. These updated Loonies and Toonies feature new compositions and enhanced security features which were not only designed the save the government money but also to help prevent counterfeiting.
The new Loonies and Toonies created with the Royal Canadian Mint's patented Multi-Ply Plated Steel technology will make their way into circulation through the normal channels. Older strikes are still considered legal tender and will circulate alongside their replacements for many years to come, according to the Mint.
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A limited mintage multi-coin set has been issued by the Perth Mint of Australia featuring ten different versions of the same unique design. The Australian Lunar Series II 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Ten-Coin Set is available now, albeit likely for an extremely short time.
Shown on the reverse of the coins is the unique 2012 dragon image used by the Perth. The creature is coiled around the top, left and bottom of the design with the representation of a "pearl of wisdom" found on the right. Within the design, the Chinese character for "dragon" can be seen and joins the inscription of "Year of the Dragon" which is found on the bottom. [click to continue…]
The Perth Mint has continued its highly successful series dedicated to the amazing landscapes of Australia and the unique creatures that inhabit it with the release of the 2012 Discover Australia Gold Proof Coins. These strikes follow a series of silver coins released last month showcasing the same creatures with different designs.
The new coins are struck from 99.99% pure gold to proof quality in three different sizes - 1/2 ounce, 1/10 ounce and 1/25 ounce. These strikes are available individually or in five-coin sets containing all five of the same-sized pieces.
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The Royal Canadian Mint has issued three new coins acknowledging the sinking of the RMS Titanic one hundred years ago. The Titanic Commemorative Coins released by the Mint include a $10 99.99% pure silver coin, a 50-Cent Silver-Plated Colored Coin and a 25-Cent Colored Coin.
All three strikes mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the cruise ship that at the time was said to be unsinkable. It set sail on its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. After four days, the Titanic hit an iceberg in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic south of Newfoundland. Slowly taking on water, the ship sunk after two and a half hours. [click to continue…]
The Discover Australia 2012 Silver Five-Coin Set has been released by the Perth Mint of Australia. Showcased on the reverse of the strikes are five unique colorized designs depicting both the picturesque landscape of the country and some of the unique creatures that can be found there.
Included among the creatures featured in the set are the Green & Gold Bell Frog, the Red Kangaroo, the Kookaburra, the Goanna and the Whale Shark. The Perth Mint is issuing these 99.9% pure silver coins individually and as part of the five-coin set.
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A new series of strikes has debuted from the Perth Mint of Australia with the release of the 2012 Opal Series Koala Silver Proof Coin. This coin showcases a Koala detailed on an inner panel of pure Australian opal.
The Australian Opal series is scheduled to contain a total of eight new strikes with this Koala Coin being the first of two issued in 2012. Additional strikes will be released also at a rate of two per year.
All of the strikes of the series will showcase a different nocturnal Australian animal featured in the opal. Each design will also reflect the moon at one of its different eight phases along with the Southern Cross constellation and native flora.
Likely the koala was chosen as the debut strike of the series owing to its status as perhaps the most loved and iconic creature of Australia. The koala lives solely on a diet of eucalyptus (gum) leaves and spends almost its entire life up in the branches of the trees. It can sleep for up to 18 hours a day and feeds at night.
Opal Series Koala Silver Proof Coin Design and Specifications
The 2012 Opal Series Koala Silver Proof Coin is struck from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver to proof quality. Each 36.60mm coin is struck as legal tender of Australia under the Australian Currency Act of 1965 and features a legal tender face value of AUS $1.
Shown on the reverse is the Aleysha Howarth design of a koala on an inner panel of Australian opal. Surrounding the opal design on the outer panel are Eucalypt leaves and blossoms along with a new moon and the Southern Cross. Inscriptions of "KOALA" and "2012 1 OZ 999 SILVER" may also be found in the reverse.
As legal tender of Australia, a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is shown on the obverse. The portrait is by Ian Rank-Broadley. Obverse inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA" and "1 DOLLAR."
The Perth Mint will release no more than 8,000 of these coins. Each will ship with a numbered certificate of authenticity and a presentation display case inside an illustrated shipper. The case is unique and new from the Perth in that it features a light that turns on when opened representing the moon shining down.
The 2012 Opal Series Koala Silver Proof Coins are available now for AUS $129. They may be found by using the affiliate link: 
Perth Mint of Australia
Additional Australian coins are also available on the 2012 Australian Coins page of World Mint Coins.
The USS Constitution 1 Oz Silver Proof Coin was released by the Perth Mint of Australia today, February 7, 2012. The 99.9% pure silver coin features a reverse design emblematic of the USS Constitution, a wooden-hulled, three-masted, heavy frigate of the United States Navy.
Each Constitution Silver Proof Coin is struck as the fourth release of the Perth's Ships That Changed the World Series. This will feature a total of five coins when completed and has been extremely popular with collectors. [click to continue…]
The Royal Canadian Mint has released the third strike in what has become one of its most popular series - the "Exchange $20 for $20" program. The $20 Pure Silver Polar Bear Commemorative Coin continues that series and like its predecessors is struck from 99.99% pure silver and is sold for an amount equal to its face value of $20.
Shown on the reverse of the coin is a design by Emily S. Damstra which depicts the iconic polar bear swimming in water. The head of the creature is just above the surface. To the right are the initials of "ED" for the designer while the inscription of "$20 DOLLARS" and "ARGENT PUR FINE SILVER 9999" are to the left. Below is the inscription of "CANADA." [click to continue…]
The Perth Mint of Australia treads into new territory with the release of the 2012 Australian Kookaburra 1 oz Silver Proof High Relief Coin. Never before has the Perth Mint released a Kookaburra Silver Coin in high relief.
