Coming November 5, 2012, The Perth Mint of Australia will release its 2013 Australian Koala Silver Bullion Coins.
The Perth Mint not only provided a release date this week, but it also unveiled the new design depicted on the four different sized 99.9% pure silver coins.
Australian Koala coins have featured a new design every year since their debut in 2007, and for 2013 an adult koala is portrayed sitting in the fork of a tree. The Perth Mint’s "P" mint mark and the coin’s denomination surround it.
Shown on the obverse is the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
2013 Australian Koala Silver Bullion Coins are available in four sizes with mintages for each determined by demand. Buyers have the choice of the one kilo with a $30 face value, a ten ounce which is $10, the one ounce with a $1 denomination and the 1/2 ounce which has a 0.50 face value. Each issue is Australian legal tender with the government assuring their weight and purity.
Koalas are one of the most popular creatures of Australia, leading to the success of the Australian Koala series. They are not bears, but they are mammals. In particular, they are furry marsupials with special hands and feet to help them climb. They spend most of their time in trees, eating eucalyptus leaves and napping.
2013 Australian Koala Silver Bullion Coins will be available from The Perth Mint, www.perthmintbullion.com, and through coin and precious metal dealers worldwide. Each is packaged in protective acrylic capsules.
Below are tables showing the technical specifications of the silver bullion coins and The Perth Mint reported sales for past year issues.
2013 Australian Koala Silver Coin Specifications
| Size | 1 Kilo | 10 oz | 1 oz | 1/2 oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Content (Troy oz) | 32.151 | 10 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Denomination (AUD) | $30 | $10 | $1 | 0.50 |
| Minimum Gross Weight (g) | 1,001.002 | 311.347 | 31.135 | 15.591 |
| Maximum Diameter (mm) | 100.60 | 75.60 | 40.60 | 36.60 |
| Maximum Thickness (mm) | 14.60 | 8.70 | 4.00 | 2.30 |
Since their introduction, Koala coins have been minted to demand. The sales below were last updated by The Perth Mint on May 7, 2012.
Sales for 2007-2011 Koala Silver Bullion Coins
| Issue Year | 1 Kilo | 10 oz | 1 oz | 1/2 oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | N/A | 137,768 | N/A | |
| 2008 | 13,188 | 4,367 | 84,057 | 13,944 |
| 2009 | 34,944 | 6,556 | 336,757 | 15,334 |
| 2010 | 30,692 | 12,928 | 233,531 | 13,315 |
| 2011 | 75,712 | 10,051 | 910,480 | 76,755 |
For more Perth Mint coin highlights, see this site’s Australian Coin Guide.
