History of the Perth Mint
Perth Mint was established in the late 19th century as a subsidiary of the British Royal Mint. Australia already had mints in Sydney and Melbourne (both have since closed), but due to the gold deposits discovered in Western Australia, it was decided to open a mint locally, in Perth.
For several decades Perth Mint remained under the management of the British authorities, and it wasn't until 1970 that the government of Western Australia became the official owner of the mint. Perth Mint was known for its exceptional purity of refined gold, thus setting the standard for other mints. In 2011, the Perth Mint produced the largest, heaviest and most valuable pure gold coin in the world.
Perth Mint today
Australia's circulating coins are made by the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, while the Perth Mint focuses on bullion and collector coins. It is responsible for refining nearly 80% of the gold in the Australasian market and about 30% of the silver. The gold, silver and platinum bars are available as cast and minted bars, and each bar comes with a certificate and a unique serial number confirming authenticity and bullion purity.
The bars are available in these weights:
- 1 kg,
- 10 oz,
- 5 oz,
- 2.5 oz,
- 1 oz,
- 1/2 oz.
Collector coins minted at Perth Mint are also sought after by investors. Currently available series include:
- Australian Kangaroo,
- Australian Koala,
- Harry Potter™,
- Pink Panther™ 60th Anniversary,
- Mythical Creatures,
- Australian Wedge,
- Australian Lunar,
- Chinese New Year.
Commemorative coins, such as those marking King Charles III's 75th birthday, complete the collection. There are also sovereigns and half sovereigns, made of 22K gold with a purity of 91.6%.
