1 oz Kookaburra Silver Coin | 2023
The Perth Mint is very pleased to present the 2023 version of the Kookaburra coin! First issued in 1990, the series features the imagery of the iconic bird from the Wiradjuri word “gugubarra”. (which is onomatopoeic of its call)
The Kookaburra birds are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are related to the Kingfisher and one of the four species is the famous laughing kookaburra. His call is recognizable because it sounds like human laughter! It is often used in television, movies or even in themed parks, (it was even used for Flipper the Dolphin’s laugh).
On the reverse of this beautiful 1 oz silver coin, the 34th annual Kookaburra design portrays two birds perched on branches surrounding waratah, a native floral treasure. The attention to details is magnificent and you can clearly see their beautiful plumage and although not in colour, you can imagine their whitish head with its brown eye-stripe. Here, the design incorporates the inscription ‘KOOKABURRA’, The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark, the 2023 year-date and the coin’s weight and purity.
The obverse of the coin depicts the 5th and last portrait of late Queen Elizabeth II.
It has been designed by Jody Clark who was at the age of 33, the youngest artist to have achieved the honour of portraying the Queen on the Royal Mint coins. In this now familiar design, Queen Elizabeth wears her diadem crown and the royal jewels and we can find her name, the legal tender of the coin 1 Dollar and “Australian” all around the coin. Clark and the Royal Mint wanted the coins to tell the story of Her Majesty’s growing stature and maturity and paint a compelling picture of the story of her reign. Clark has certainly achieved his goal as the drawing really shows the qualities of Her Majesty: dignity, courage, sense of duty but also a profound humanity and empathy.
Did you know?
Kookaburras are mainly carnivorous, and use their sharp beaks to kill and eat small animals such as mice, reptiles, other birds, and insects. They even eat snakes - some of which are poisonous, and much bigger than them
The coin incorporates an authentication feature in the form of a micro-laser engraved letter. Detectable under a magnifying glass, it is designed to make it significantly more difficult for the coin to be counterfeited.
Each coin contains 1 troy ounce of .9999 fine silver. The 1 oz Silver Kookaburra bears a face value of $1 AUD, backed by the Australian government. Individual coins come in protective capsules. Grab your copy on StoneX Bullion as it will add significant value to your portfolio!