2014 Silver Koala Released

The Perth Mint has just announced the release of the 2014 Silver Koala coin.  This silver bullion coin uses a different image each year, making it more collectible than if an image would simply be repeated.  The bullion coins are available at the Perth Mint, but not sold directly to customers in the United States.  They are available through distributors.

The 2014 Koala comes in 99.9 percent silver, and are minted in five sizes.  They come in the 1/2, 1, 2 and 10 ounce sizes, and the 1 kg size.  Other Perth Mint bullion does come in other sizes.  If the coin is low in price on eBay, check to see if it is the one half ounce size.

This information is being made available by:

Black Spaniel Gallery Coins

where we have many beautiful coins.  However, this is not a coin we will be carrying.

Watch for updates as coins are released in the U. S., Canada, the U. K., Australia, and New Zealand.  we add many of the new releases to this blog.  It is a very nice sample, but not intended to be complete.

2011 Beijing International Coin Exposition 2 Coin Set

2011 Beijing International Coin Exposition 2 Coin Set

Uncirculated

Includes one half ounce ( 0.5 oz) fine silver KOALA and half ounce ( 0.5 oz ) fine silver DRAGON

Both coins are 2012 issues.

Product of the Perth Mint

Limited issue of 2,888

These coins are 0.999 fine silver coins and have denominations of 50 cents Australian

Black Spaniel Gallery

Are All Silver Bullion Coins Alike?

Are All Silver Bullion Coins Alike?

The simple answer is no, but we will explore advantages and disadvantages here.

The United states Silver eagle

Customers in the United States prefer this coin, but it commands very little over the bullion price.  One problem is the same image is used year after year.

The Chinese Panda

This is a beautiful coin, and authentic coins can command a nice premium, which is good when you have to sell.  The problem is counterfeiting.  China is not strict about counterfeiting foreign coins, but will not look favorably when its own coins are counterfeited.  So, look for the Yuan symbol.  With it, the coin is Chinese currency, and counterfeiting is less likely.

The Britannia of Great Britain

This is a nice coin with a solid history of performing well above the spot metal price.  Very highly recommended.

The Canadian Maple Leaf

This coin is 0.9999 pure silver, not the traditional 0.999 that most fine silver is.  The last nine is not that big of a value change, except in the minds of many buyers.  And resale depends on what a buyer will pay.  This coin is highly recommended if you can get it at a price near the spot price of silver.

The Australian Coins

The Perth Mint has three silver bullion coins, the kookaburra, the lunar coins, and the koala.  All three change every year, and are sought after by numismatists.  Of these, the koala, the last to be introduced, often carries the least premium.  One advantage here is the multiple sizes that are produced.  While all sizes are not available for all coins, the sizes range from one half ounce to one kilogram, including the one, two, five, and ten ounce sizes.  The kookaburra and the lunar series are highly recommended.

The Royal Australian Mint claims the kangaroo as bullion, but many are mounted on mint cards making them more numismatic than bullion in nature.  The kangaroo changes annually.

The Austrian Philharmonic

This coin created quite a stir when it was first released.  Unfortunately, it does not change design annually, making it boring.  Another problem is we once got a coin in with “milk spots.”  For those who do not know, milk spots are white discolorations that happen at the mint.  They are not something that needs attention, but do make an ugly appearance on the coin. 

The Mexican Libertad

This coin may be attractive, but as with other issues the design is stagnant.  One problem we have had here is bag marks, the scratches and chips caused by coins making contact in the bags used by the mint to package them.

The New Zealand Fern and Kiwi

The kiwi is by far more desirable than the fern.  The fern just did not catch on.  

However, the New Zealand Mint does make the taku for the Fiji Islands, which is popular.  Perhaps it will stay popular, but the image does not change, so probably not.

Australian Collectible Coins (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and more)

Australia has several series of incredibly beautiful coins that they mint concurrently.  Their coins have a great detail, and often are confused with proof coins.  They currently mint the Lunar series, Lunar series II, Kookaburras, Kangaroos, and Koalas.  In addition, they mint several painted series, one depicting wildlife and another depicting fire trucks from around the world.  Finally, consider the Birds of Australia series.

LUNAR SERIES:  The Lunar honors the Chinese zodiac, and is a 12 year series of coins that started in 1999 with the rabbit.  The 2010 tiger is already in early release, so collecting the series is possible.  It is available in silver coins ranging in size from one-half ounce to one kilogram, and gold coins of various sizes.  In addition, two special versions are available, the gilded coins in which the coin is silver with the zodiac symbol gilded in gold, and a kilogram coin with a diamond inserted into it.  The Perth mint still has back years for the two special series.

LUNAR SERIES II:  The second Lunar series has started in 2008, with the year of the mouse, and already the 2009 ox coin can be viewed on the Perth mint site.  The mouse can also be bought colorized.

KOOKABURRA:   The Kookaburra is the Australian bird, and an entire series of silver coins has been devoted to it.  This series began in 1990 and continues today.  The coins are available in various sizes, and the gilded coins are accompanied by a matching pin.  The half ounce is a square coin.

KANGEROO:  Another series in both gold and silver in the Kangaroo series.  This series is available in gold and silver.  The silver coins are generally high in value for a coin of their silver content.

KOALA:  The koala series of silver coins also continues today.  It is available in both silver and gilded coins.

BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA:  The Birds of Australia series started in 1989 with a kookaburra.  These coins come in attractive cases, and are silver coins, but not part of the Kookaburra series.  They differ in the purity of the silver and the size of the coins.

The painted coins are beautiful, and desired by collectors.  There are numerous painted coins released each year, and we suggest you look for yourself.

To view the coins offered directly by the Perth Mint of Australia, and to place an order for current, and in some cases back year coins, simply click on the button on our site.  It will connect you to Perth.  And while you are there, you might want to visit their gift shop that carries gold nuggets and jewelry!  Just click and browse, and if you wish, buy.  The direct link will remain available on our site, so just come back here to visit Perth anytime.

This article is being made available from Black Spaniel Gallery at http://blackspanielgallery.comby the author.  Links to major English speaking mints are available at Black Spaniel Gallery.