After a low-key start to the year, the big news this month from the Perth Mint is the release of the new antique-finish, high-relief Kangaroo coin, a superb piece done in the style of the Gods of Olympus format. We covered that in our previous post. The rest of the months releases are below, and basically consist of some war coins from both the Second and First World Wars, and a single piece featuring the Gumnut Babies, the latest in a series that started last year.

The war coins are a decent bunch. The Desert Rats are celebrated from the famous WWII campaign in Northern Africa around the town of Tobruk. This is the latest in a range commemorating the 75th anniversary of events in the Second World War. The centenary commemorations of the First World War continue with a remembrance of that most brutal of battles, the Battle of the Somme, scene of immense carnage and little result. The final coin remembers the Australian Home Front, with a reproduction of one of the many posters put out by the government in support of the war effort, this one the selling of war bonds.

Overall, quite a limited set of themes this month again, but things look to be improving next month with the launch of the first of this years Gods series. Norse Gods kicks off with Odin and is a fine looking coin, but the Perth Mint are releasing into a fiercely competitive and crowded marketplace, with Norse God coins being extremely plentiful, led (in our opinion) by the Choice Mints superb Legends of Asgard coin. Perth does have the advantage of keeping the style of the six previous coins in the Gods of Olympus and last years Goddesses of Olympus ranges, so they do have an eager fanbase ready to snap them up.

Other coins due next month are

• Anzac Day 2016 $1 Coin in Card
• Australian Map Shaped Series – Great White Shark 2016 1oz Coloured Coin
• RSL 100th Anniversary 2016 1/4oz Gold Proof Coin
• RSL 100th Anniversary 2016 1oz Silver Proof Coin
• The ANZAC Spirit 100th Anniversary Coin Series – Anzac Day 100 Years 2016 1/4oz Gold Proof Coin
• The Cubs – Tiger 1/2oz 2016 Silver Proof Coin
• 100th Anniversary of Gumnut Babies Stamp and Coin Cover
• Deadly and Dangerous – 2016 1oz Silver Proof Coin
• Perth ANDA Coin Show Special 2016 Year of the Monkey 2oz Silver Proof Coloured Coin

All will be released from 01 March. This months releases are available now from the Perth Mint website or from one of their many dealers worldwide.

2016 WWI POSTERS: WAR BONDS

Continuing on with the popular Australian Posters of World War I series is the third release, the War Bonds silver coloured coin.

The first War Loan campaign was launched on the 1 July 1915, followed by another seven, the last of which was introduced on 1 August 1918. The series of posters were produced in great volumes during the First World War, focusing on themes of patriotism combined with a notion of responsibility, aiming to inspire Australians to do their part to financially support the war through war bonds.

The coin’s reverse features a coloured representation of the World War I ‘Our daddy is fighting’ poster headed by the inscription AUSTRALIAN WAR BONDS. The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark, and the coin’s weight and fineness also appear in the design.

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.

The coin is housed in a contemporary, latex case which displays both sides of the coin. The case is packaged within a beautifully illustrated shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Designed by Wade Robinson. Priced at $90.00 AUD for international buyers.

SPECIFICATION

2016 ANZAC SPIRIT: ANZAC DAY

The Perth Mint is proud to present this silver coloured coin commemorating the Battle of the Somme, perfect for veterans, historians, and collectors.

The Somme was one of the most costly battles of the First World War. In less than four months the British lost a staggering 430,000 killed, missing, wounded and taken prisoner, while the French suffered more than 200,000 casualties. The Germans also suffered appallingly, incurring more than 650,000 casualties from which they would never fully recover.

The coin’s reverse depicts a group of soldiers as they charge out of the trenches along the Somme Valley in France. The design includes the inscription ‘Be Worthy of Them 1916’, and The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark. Also edged lettering is featured around the coin’s rim with the words, “PRIDE • RESPECT • GRATITUDE”

Each coin is presented in a themed presentation case with the words ‘Pride’, ‘Respect’, and ‘Gratitude’ inscribed on the outside of the case, within an illustrated shipper, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Designed by Wade Robinson. Priced at $90.00 AUD for international buyers

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2016 75TH WWII TOBRUK DESERT RATS

The Siege of Tobruk was one of the first major battles of World War II and took place 75 years ago in 1941. To commemorate the 75th anniversary and pay homage to those that fought there, The Perth Mint presents this historic coin, the perfect keepsake for soldiers that fought in the siege and their descendants.

A small town on the Libyan coast, Tobruk was central to much of the fighting that took place in the Western Desert. The town became a key naval outpost due to its location on a sheltered, deep water harbour.

The coin’s reverse portrays two Australian troops in the trenches during the Siege of Tobruk. The design includes the inscriptions 75th ANNIVERSARY OF WWII and THE RATS OF TOBRUK, and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

Each coin is presented in a classic Perth Mint presentation case within an illustrated shipper, and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Designed by Jennifer McKenna. Priced at $90.00 AUD for international buyers

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2016 GUMNUT BABIES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

This very special release from The Perth Mint is sure to delight fans of May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies. Featuring a limited edition copy of the Gumnut Babies book, with the coin nestled inside the front cover, this is a true collector’s item.

The coin’s reverse depicts a colour image of seven Gumnut Babies sitting on a eucalypt tree branch, surrounded by gumnuts and gum leaves. The design includes the inscription MAY GIBBS GUMNUT BABIES 100TH ANNIVERSARY, and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark

Each coin will be presented in the cover of a special limited edition Gumnut Babies book, displaying both the reverse and obverse of the coin. The book will sit within a beautifully illustrated pocket and contains a Certificate of Authenticity, which is individually numbered.

Designed by Ing Ing Jong. Priced at $117.27 AUD.

SPECIFICATION