Rafinerie a mincovny October 9, 2026
The Perth Mint: an Australian mint bringing gold and stories together
The Perth Mint is one of Australia’s best-known producers of precious metal products for investors and collectors. Founded in 1899, it combines a long minting tradition with distinctive designs inspired by Australian wildlife. Its renowned products include Kangaroo, Kookaburra and Koala coins, popular Lunar series and investment bullion bars.
From the gold rush to an international brand
The origins of The Perth Mint are closely linked to the growth of gold mining in Western Australia. Established in 1899 as a branch of Britain’s Royal Mint, its role was to process locally mined gold and produce gold sovereigns for use in Australia and across the British Empire.
Between 1899 and 1931, it struck more than 106 million sovereigns. After sovereign production ended, the mint continued refining gold and producing bullion bars. Today, The Perth Mint is operated by Gold Corporation, which is owned by the Government of Western Australia.
Australian Kangaroo: an icon of bullion coinage
One of The Perth Mint’s best-known products is the Australian Kangaroo. The series began as the Australian Nugget, appearing in proof format in 1986 and as a bullion coin the following year. Its original designs depicted famous Australian gold nuggets. In 1989, the kangaroo replaced the nugget imagery.
The combination of a distinctive Australian symbol and precious metal gave the series its identity. When choosing a coin, buyers should distinguish between the year of issue, weight and finish. Bullion and collector versions can differ considerably in price, even when they contain the same amount of gold.
The Lunar series: twelve animals, twelve stories
Australian Lunar is one of The Perth Mint’s best-known coin programmes. Inspired by the twelve animals of the Chinese lunar calendar, it introduces a new design for each annual issue. The third series began with the 2020 Year of the Mouse.
Lunar coins offer a way to connect precious metals with a personal story. An animal associated with someone’s birth year can make a meaningful gift, while collecting successive issues creates a themed collection. For each release, however, it is worth considering the mintage and purchase premium: the design alone does not guarantee future appreciation in collector value.
Kookaburra and Koala: Australian wildlife in silver
Alongside its Kangaroo and Lunar coins, The Perth Mint is also known for its Kookaburra and Koala series. The silver Kookaburra dates back to 1990, while the silver Koala was introduced in 2007.
Changing designs across annual issues allow investors to choose coins for their appearance as well as their metal content, and give collectors a reason to follow the series over time.
Both a mint and a refinery
The Perth Mint does more than manufacture coins. It also processes precious metals and produces investment bullion bars. Golden House offers, for example, a one-troy-ounce Perth Mint gold bar with a fineness of 999.9/1000.
When deciding between a coin and a bar, compare the price per gram of fine metal, the purchase premium and the terms for a future resale. For collector editions, also consider the condition, packaging and any accompanying certificate.
The Perth Mint products at Golden House
At Golden House, we offer selected Perth Mint bullion bars and Australian coins, including Lunar and themed releases. Available years of issue and product availability change over time.
Whether you are looking for a classic bullion coin, a new addition to your collection or a meaningful gift, we will be happy to help you choose in our showroom or through our customer support team.