First issued back in 1993, the Royal Australian Mint’s flagship Kangaroo series of silver coins has been a collector favourite for many years. From it’s early days achieving mintages in the 50-70,000 range, the coins have settled down into fixed runs, this year at 10,000 for the frosted-uncirculated coin, and 5,000 for the proof. In recent years the mint has linked small groups of annual releases with a common theme, the last being a three year series called Explorers First Sightings that looked at early depictions and descriptions of the marsupial that is so inextricably associated with Australia.

This year sees the first in a new themed run called Seasons Change that means to highlight the beauty of this iconic creature and the environment it lives in. This first coin is, in our opinion, a great design to launch the series on. Depicting a kangaroo with a joey in its pouch, the reverse side is well detailed, with some spot on artwork moving away from the more stylistic representation to a far more appropriate natural one. The obverse is, as usual, adorned with the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

Available as a nicely packaged proof, or as a card-mounted frosted uncirculated version, both coins carry identical designs, only the finish differentiating them. There’s a fairly noticeable premium for the proof version, $100 AUD instead of $80 for the frosted finish coin. Both are available to purchase from the RAM eshop.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The 2016 Kangaroo Series continues this popular series with the release of a new theme that captures the exquisite and natural beauty of the kangaroo. The reverse of this coin depicts a mother kangaroo and its offspring in the pouch of its mother. A baby kangaroo stays in the pouch of a minimum of twelve months while it develops and feeds from the teat of its mother. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo can be found across the inland plane and coastal landscape of Australia. The reverse design features a winter inland plane with gum trees and mountain ranges.

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SPECIFICATION

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$1 AUD 0.999 SILVER 31.1 g 40.00 mm PROOF 5,000 YES / YES
$1 AUD 0.999 SILVER 31.1 g 40.00 mm FROSTED UNC 10,000 CARD / YES