It’s usually about this time of the year that the Perth Mint debut the first of their antique-finish Gods/Goddesses of Olympus coins, certainly the case for the last couple of years. This year brings a pleasant surprise as the mint has released what I can only describe as the best Kangaroo coin I’ve ever seen. Struck in the Gods of Olympus style, two ounces of antique-finished, high-relief, rimless silver, the coin features an intricate and realistic piece of artwork. With an anatomically superb kangaroo bounding across a very detailed landscape complete with onlooking lizard, the artist has taken a format used to depict stylistic interpretations of ancient deities with such great acclaim, to depicting a realistic animal in a natural setting with equal aplomb. While the six Olympus coins were designed by Tom Vaughan, this one is the work of another Pirt Mint regular, Wade Robinson, with his initials appearing at the bottom of the reverse face.

Available to order now, we’d suggest that this one won’t hang around for long, especially given the long association of the subject matter with the mint, and because of the uniqueness of the format. Packaging is a favourite of ours. The Nimbus-style frame is a superb way to show of a chunky coin like this and it’s easy to see why they’ve been gaining in popularity over the last few years. They’re especially good with art-architectural coins or the like that incorporate a window into the design. All is wrapped up in a coloured shipper. Priced at $199.00 AUD, we think this one is a classic. What do you think?

MINTS DESCRIPTION

This spectacular coin is the first Australian legal tender 2oz silver antiqued rimless coin and features the iconic Australian kangaroo struck in brilliant high relief.

This unique 2oz silver coin features a true Australian icon, the kangaroo, hopping across a typical outback landscape. To capture the depth and wonderful detail of the design, the coin is struck in high relief to a rimless format and features an antique finish.

REVERSE: The extremely detailed reverse of the coin depicts a kangaroo hopping across the Australian landscape with a lizard perched on a rock in the foreground. The design also includes The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

To capture the depth and detail of the design, the coin is struck in high relief to a rimless format and features an antique finish.

OBVERSE: Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2016 year-date, and the monetary denomination are depicted on the coin’s obverse.

PRESENTATION: Each coin is housed in a clear latex display case with a black frame. It is presented in an illustrated shipper which opens to reveal the coin and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.