Australian Kangaroo Coins

The Australian Kangaroo is a series of coins produced annually by the Perth Mint of Australia. Although the coin is now released each year with a different design of kangaroo (on the reverse) this was originally not the case. From 1986 to 1989, the coin was produced under the name “Australian Gold Nugget” after a 2,284 oz. nugget found in Western Australia. The nugget, nick-named the “Welcome Stranger,” was the largest gold nugget ever to be found. In 1990 however, the design on the reverse of the Gold Nugget was changed to a Kangaroo after a trial run of proof Gold Nuggets the year before proved to be overwhelmingly popular. The coins are now produced in several weights ranging from 1/20 oz. to 1 kg.

Facts About the Australian Kangaroo Coin:

• From 1986-1989, when the Australian Kangaroo coin was known as the Gold Nugget, it was produced by a private company owned entirely by the government of Western Australia called the “Gold Corporation.”
• Until 2008, the reverse of the Australian Kangaroo coin carried the inscription “Nugget” – a remnant of the previous design of the coin.
• The Gold Nugget version of the Australian Kangaroo Coin was minted with a “two-tone” frosted finish.