Perth Mint’s Bird of Paradise gold and silver bullion coin returns for 2019 with a new design

One of our favourite limited run bullion coins of 2018, the Perth Mint’s first Bird of Paradise coin joined a growing selection of nature-themed issues emanating from this Western Australian producer. We’re big fans of this push to a more interesting, lower mintage increase in selection after many years of subtle variations on the basic Koala and Kookaburra coins.

The first coin chose the Victoria’s Riflebird species and depicted it calling out with wings outspread on a tree branch. This year that basic style remains, but we have a different species to look at – the Manucodia. Known for their distinctive song – the result of an extended windpipe acting like a wind instrument – the Manucodia live in the lowland forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. Medium-sized with black-glossed purple and green plumages, they are, uniquely amongst Birds of Paradise, monogamous.

Another fine design by Jennifer McKenna, it remains available in both 1oz gold and 1oz silver form. Mintages are set at 5,000 for the former and 50,000 for the latter, with each supplied encapsulated, even in rolls of 20 in the case of the silver. This one is again distributed by Auragentum in Germany and they have both gold and silver up for pre-order right now, with shipping later this month. A series definitely worth watching.

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MINTS DESCRIPTION

Each coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.99% pure silver or gold, and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965. The Perth Mint will release no more than 50,000 of the Australian Bird of Paradise 2019 1oz Silver Bullion Coin and 5,000 of the Australian Bird of Paradise 2019 1oz Gold Bullion Coin.

DESIGN: The coin’s reverse depicts a Manucode Bird of Paradise calling out while perched on a branch. The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN BIRD OF PARADISE and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark. The Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the monetary denomination and the 2019 year-date are depicted on the coin’s obverse.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $1 Australian $100 Australian
COMPOSITION 0.9999 silver 0.9999 gold
WEIGHT 31.107 grams 31.107 grams
DIMENSIONS 40.6 mm 32.6 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS None None
MINTAGE 50,000 5,000
BOX / COA No / No No / No
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