2019 Australian Gold Kangaroos

The history of the Gold Kangaroo originates in 1986 when it was first introduced by the Gold Corporation (today’s Perth Mint) as the Australian Gold Nugget due to its depiction of an Aussie lump of gold on its reverse face. In 1989, the reverse image was replaced by a more iconic Australian image, the red kangaroo, intended to celebrate Australia’s most famous marsupial. Every year since 1999, the coin design is updated, promoting collectability because of each year’s unique characteristics.

The reverse side of the 2019 coin portrays a single kangroo with barren trees on both the left and right. The lone kangaroo is perched on a grassy hill under the bright Austrailian sun. The detailed engraving emphasizes the kangaroos’ powerful torso, long tail, and wavy fur. Etched over the top half of the coin are the words “AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO.” The bottom half of the coin is engraved with the year of production “2019”, the coin’s weight “1 oz”, and the coin’s metal content ”9999 GOLD”. Just above the grassy hill, investors can find the Perth Mint’s traditional “P” mintmark.

The obverse side of the coin features the sixth portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to appear on Australian coins since 1952 shows the Queen wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem, recalling the Raphael Maklouf portrayal adopted in 1985. Each coin is issued as Australian legal tender, which is signified for the first time by the new Jody Clark effigy of the current monarch on its obverse. Also depicted are the coin’s monetary denomination “100 DOLLARS” as well as the words “AUSTRALIA” and “ELIZABETH II”. The royal crown is gently nestled into the Queen’s wavy golden hair, and every individual facial feature from her eyebrows to her lips to her nose are sculpted in perfect likeness. The imagery of the Queen is common to all Australian coinage and indicates the backing of the Australian government.

This year’s investor Kangaroos also include a security feature in the form a micro laser-engraved letter ‘A’ concealed within the reverse inscription. Only visible through a magnifying glass, this design innovation is intended to make counterfeiting extremely difficult.