Coin Collecting News » The Perth Mint

Perth Mint Unveils the Gold and Silver Bullion Coins to be offered in 2011

The Perth Mint — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:47:28 +0000

Recognized throughout the world for their superior quality, superb artistry and Government guarantee of weight and purity, the Perth Mint has unveiled it’s 2011 Australian Bullion Coin Program. These pure gold and silver coins are actives sought after by both investors and collectors.

The comprehensive line-up for 2011 includes two designs for gold bullion coins ranging from 1/20oz up to 10 kilos and three designs for Silver bullion coins from 1/2oz up to 10 kilos.

Struck by The Perth Mint from 99.99% pure gold, each coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the undisputed guarantee of its weight and purity. Portraying creative new reverse artistry, every 2011 gold bullion coin also features The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mintmark, a traditional symbol of quality trusted by investors worldwide. Uniquely, many of these releases are restricted by mintage, a feature that creates an exciting potential for even greater investment return in the form of a numismatic premium.

AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO GOLD BULLION COINS : 1 kilo, 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz
A kangaroo is the most instantly recognisable wildlife symbol of Australia. In 2011, The Perth Mint is releasing four small gold bullion coins portraying two kangaroos ‘boxing’ in the outback. In addition, a large 1 kilo Australian Kangaroo coin is available with a classic kangaroo design by Dr Stuart Devlin, AO CMG goldsmith and jeweller to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

No more than 350,000 1oz coins, 100,000 1/2oz coins, 150,000 1/4oz coins and 200,000 1/10oz coins will be produced in 2011.

AUSTRALIAN LUNAR GOLD BULLION COINS : 10 kilo, 1 kilo, 10oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz, 1/20oz
The Australian Lunar series of gold coins epitomizes The Perth Mint’s rich tradition of minting investor coins portraying Chinese themes. This year’s releases mark the 2011 Year of the Rabbit, one of 12 animals associated with the ancient Chinese lunar calendar. In Chinese culture, people born in the Year of the Rabbit – 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011 – are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract.

No mintage limit applies to 1 kilo, 10oz, 2oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz and 1/20oz coins. However, production will close at the end of 2011, when The Perth Mint will declare each coin’s official mintage. A maximum of 100 10 kilo coins will be produced on a made-to-order basis. However, production will close at the end of 2011, when the coin’s actual mintage will be declared. The Perth Mint will produce no more than 30,000 1oz coins. Production will cease when the mintage is fully sold or at the end of the series, whichever comes first.

AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA SILVER BULLION COINS: 1 kilo, 10oz, 1oz
Laughing kookaburras, the largest members of the kingfisher species, are synonymous with the Australian bush. In 2011, The Perth Mint is releasing three silver bullion coins portraying a kookaburra perched on a tree branch.

Only 300,000 1oz coins will be released. No mintage limit applies to 1 kilo and 10oz coins

AUSTRALIAN KOALA SILVER BULLION COINS: 1 kilo, 10oz, 1oz, 1/2oz
Affection has always been strong for Australia’s docile, tree-dwelling koala. In 2011, The Perth Mint is releasing four silver bullion coins portraying a koala sitting on a tree branch eating leaves.

No mintage limit applies to these coins for 12 months. However, production will close at the end of 2011 and The Perth Mint will declare each coin’s official mintage.

AUSTRALIAN LUNAR SILVER BULLION COINS: 10 kilo, 1 kilo, 1/2 kilo, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz
The Australian Lunar series of silver coins epitomizes The Perth Mint’s rich tradition of minting investor coins portraying Chinese themes. This year’s releases mark the 2011 Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese character for ‘rabbit’ appears within the coins’ reverse design.

No mintage limit applies to 1 kilo, 1/2 kilo, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz and 1/2oz coins. Except for the 1 kilo release, production of these coins will close at the end of 2011 and The Perth Mint will declare each coin’s official mintage. Production of 1 kilo coins will cease at the end of the series. A maximum of 500 10 kilo coins will be produced on a made-to-order basis. However, production will close at the end of 2011, when the coin’s actual mintage will be declared. The Perth Mint will produce up to 300,000 1oz coins. Production will cease when the mintage is fully sold or at the end of the series, whichever comes first.

To order any of these items, see your local bullion dealer or visit the Perth Mint website at http://www.perthmint.com.au

Second Largest Gold Nugget in the World On Display at Perth Mint

The Perth Mint — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:08:41 +0000

One of the largest gold nuggets ever discovered has gone on display at The Perth Mint.

Newmont Mining Corporation’s Normandy Nugget, which was found in a dry stream bed near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in 1995, can now be seen up close in the Mint’s fascinating Gold Exhibition. Weighing in at 25.5 kilograms, it is the second largest nugget in the world today having escaped being melted down, and is the 26th largest gold nugget ever discovered.

Information published by the University of Southern California, where the 40 million year-old nugget was examined in 1999, showed it to be 80 to 90% highpurity gold. That gives the nugget an intrinsic value of approximately AU$800,000 at today’s gold price, but its uniqueness and historical significance means it would doubtless fetch much more.

Perth Mint Chief Executive Officer Ed Harbuz said the Mint was delighted to be able to put Newmont’s Normandy Nugget on display. “It is a coup for the 100,000- plus people who visit our Gold Exhibition annually to be able to see this important cultural and heritage asset symbolising almost 160 years of gold discoveries in Australia,” he said.

Normandy Mining, now part of Newmont Australia, purchased the nugget in 2000 after the Commonwealth Government objected to attempts by its finder to sell the culturally significant object overseas. It was brought home with the aim of ensuring it remained in Australia for all to see and admire.

Since then, it has been displayed at museums around the world including Denver and Tokyo before Newmont agreed to a long-term loan to the historic Perth Mint. Newmont Mining Corporation (www.newmont.com) was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It has operations in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia and Ghana, and in 2007, it became the first gold company selected to be part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. In Australia, Newmont owns the Tanami gold mine in the Northern Territory, the Boddington and Jundee gold mines in Western Australia, and is also a joint owner of the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie.

Newmont’s Normandy Nugget can be seen in The Perth Mint Gold Exhibition, open weekdays between 9.00am and 5.00pm, and on weekends and public holidays between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Standard adult entry $15; children (4 – 15 years) $5; family pass (2 adults and 2 children) $38. Telephone (08) 9421 7223 for tour information and bookings.

For further information:
Richard Hayes, Chief Financial Officer, The Perth Mint
Telephone (08) 9421 7475 Email richard.hayes@perthmint.com.au

Paul Kiley, Director Corporate Development, Newmont Australia
Telephone (08) 9423 6122 Email paul.kiley@newmont.com

PERTH MINT TO RESUME TAKING BULLION COIN ORDERS

The Perth Mint — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:10:16 +0000

The Perth Mint has announced that it will resume taking orders for a popular range of gold and silver bullion coins from 12 January 2009.

The announcement follows an earlier Perth Mint communication advising clients that as a result of unprecedented worldwide demand, it had been forced to close its new order book for gold and silver bullion coins, except its 1oz Kangaroo gold bullion coin. Orders for popular numismatic products and Depository/Certificate products were, and continue to be, unaffected.

Due to its reputation and extensive connections in the bullion market, the Western Australian State-owned Mint continues to have no problem sourcing wholesale gold and silver. The decision to temporarily suspend taking new orders for gold and silver bullion coins was purely a result of the 100 per cent utilisation of its production capacity.

As of 12 January, the Mint will be resuming orders for a streamlined range of 1oz and 1kg Australian Koala, Australian Kookaburra and Australian Lunar silver bullion coins, as well as 1oz Lunar gold bullion coins.

By limiting the range to these coins and the 1oz Kangaroo gold bullion coin, the Mint expects to be able to increase production volumes from existing production capacity.

Where dealer demand continues to outstrip product availability, coins will be subject to an allocation process. The availability of fractional and other size variations from its bullion coin range will be subject to ongoing review.

The Perth Mint is committed to supplying its customers with as much product as possible and continues to make every effort to satisfy its dealer and customer requirements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Neil Vance, Wholesale Manager, The Perth Mint
Telephone (08) 9421 7225 Mobile 0413 993 715
Email neil.vance@perthmint.com.au

YOUNG COLLECTORS SET TO INSPIRE NEW GENERATION OF COIN COLLECTORS

The Perth Mint — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:15:40 +0000

In a market-leading initiative designed to help create a new generation of coin collectors, The Perth Mint has announced Young Collectors, the first Australian legal tender coin program exclusively designed, packaged and priced for 8 to 12 year-old children.

With the number of mature-aged collectors in decline around the world, Perth Mint Sales and Marketing Director Ron Currie said that the industry was in agreement that new initiatives were needed to boost participation in one of the world’s oldest hobbies.

“Young Collectors is set to tackle the challenge with a program of annual releases portraying themes appealing to children,” he said. “It starts in 2008 with the release of 12 Australian Animal $1 coins on brightly illustrated information cards.”

Mr Currie said that the program would also appeal to adult collectors wishing to share their passion for coins. “We’re hopeful that they will see Young Collectors as the ideal way of igniting young people’s interest in the hobby. Consequently, we’ll be promoting the program as a great gift idea, particularly for people looking for traditional toys with educational value and enduring appeal.”

Featuring the Wedge Tailed Eagle, Grey Kangaroo, Australian Sea Lion, Palm Cockatoo, Echidna, Platypus, Ghost Bat, Common Wombat, Green Turtle, Splendid Wren, Frilled Neck Lizard and Whale Shark, Young Collectors portrays many popular Australian animals. Each coin’s accompanying presentation card offers fascinating animal facts validated by expert staff from two leading Australian Museums.

As well as individual coins, the program allows collectors to purchase a Starter Kit including three coins and a Complete Album with all 12. Housed in a robust ring-binder featuring a three-dimensional image of a kangaroo on the front, these options also contain coloured animal stickers, fun drawing games and word puzzles.

As an incentive to purchase the Complete Album, it includes a bonus medallion portraying the friendly cartoon character ‘Gordy the Gecko’, who writes exclusively to children about himself and the exciting Young Collectors website created by The Perth Mint to support the aims of the new program.

Scheduled to launch in August, youngcollectors.com.au is entertaining and informative and creates a ‘buzz’ around the topic of coins with lots of ideas on how to start and care for a collection.

Recommended retail prices for Young Collectors range from AUD$9.95 for an individual coin to AUD$79.95 for the Complete Album. The program is available from The Perth Mint Shop located at 310 Hay Street, East Perth, on FREECALL 1800 098 817, via the web at www.perthmint.com.au, and leading retailers and coin distributors.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Ron Currie, Sales and Marketing Director, The Perth Mint

Telephone +61 8 9421 7269 Mobile 0412 559 067

Email ron.currie@perthmint.com.au

Perth Mint Releases Second Orbital Coin Celebrating Yuri Gagarin

The Perth Mint — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:17:12 +0000

The second release from The Perth Mint’s innovative Orbit and Beyond Series celebrates Yuri Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut and national hero, who became the first human in space and the first to orbit the Earth on 12 April 1961.

Struck by The Perth Mint, the coin comprises 1oz of 99.9% pure silver with a central core made of non-precious metal.

Coloured Reverse Design

The coin’s reverse comprises the border inscription 1961 FIRST MAN IN SPACE – YURI GAGARIN and a montage of coloured images symbolising his epic journey. Blasting-off in Vostok 1 from Baikonur in Soviet central Asia, Gagarin completed a single orbit of the Earth in 108 minutes before re-entering the atmosphere and parachuting back to the Soviet Union.

Unique ‘Orbital’ Coin Construction

Thanks to the coin’s unique construction, these design elements literally ‘orbit’ around a coloured representation of Earth.

Issued As Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of the Cook Islands, the coin’s obverse depicts the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2008 year-date and the monetary denomination surrounding another coloured image of the Earth.

Limited Mintage

The Perth Mint will release no more than 25,000 ‘orbital’ coins celebrating Yuri Gagarin. Coins can be purchased directly from the perth mint by visiting their web site www.perthmint.com.au