2012 High Relief Australian Kangaroo and Kola Coins Available

New issues from the Perth Mint of Australia include two proof high relief coins with limited mintages.

2012 High Relief Australian Kangaroo and Kola Coins

They are the one ounce 2012 Australian Kangaroo High Relief Silver Proof Coin and the one ounce 2012 Australian Koala High Relief Gold Proof Coin. These releases are part of two separate but popular annual series.

2012 Australian Kangaroo High Relief Silver Proof Coin

High relief kangaroo silver coins started in 2010 and are struck in one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. This year’s reverse design features the Australian outback with a kangaroo in front of a windmill. It was created by Wade Robinson, a Perth Mint artist. The familiar effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley is on the obverse.

2012 Australian Kangaroo High Relief Silver Proof Coin

Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and very prevalent. The image of a kangaroo is used in many ways to represent the country, including being incorporated into the Commonwealth Coat of Arms used by Australian governmental agencies.

The kangaroo coin is made with an extra-deep blank measuring 6.00 mm and a diameter of 32.60 mm. Its weight is 31.135 grams. Inscriptions on the reverse are "AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO" and "2012 1 OZ 999 SILVER." The obverse sports, "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA" and "1 DOLLAR."

The Perth Mint is selling the Australian Kangaroo High Relief Silver Proof Coin for $100.00 AUD and its mintage limit is set for 20,000.

For another perspective, also check out this SilverCoinsToday.com article about the Kangaroo High Relief Silver Coin.

2012 Australian Koala High Relief Gold Proof Coin

The koala gold coin in high relief will be coming soon to the USA, according to the Perth Mint’s website at the time of this writing. Smaller sizes that are proof quality but not designated high relief are available now. What makes the high relief coin so special is the dramatic detail of the design.

2012 Australian Koala High Relief Gold Proof Coin

A mature sleepy koala on a eucalyptus tree branch is featured on the reverse of the newest 99.99% pure gold strike in the Australian Koala series. It was designed by Aleysha Howarth.

The koala is one of the country’s best loved marsupial. New coin designs featuring the koala have been portrayed each year since the series began in 2008.

Each one ounce koala gold coin weighs 31.107 grams and has a diameter of 27.30 mm. The thickness is 5 mm. Inscriptions on the reverse are simply, "1oz 9999 GOLD," under the design. On the obverse the inscriptions read, "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA 2012," and "100 DOLLARS," surrounding Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Perth Mint is pricing the Australian Koala High Relief Gold Proof Coin at $2,990.00 AUD. Up to 2,000 will be minted.

For another perspective, also check out this Coinnews.net article about the Koala Gold proof coins.

Where to Order

More information on the high relief Australian Kangaroo and Kola coins may be found directly at the Perth Mint website (perthmint.com.au).

Related Coin Collecting News:

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September 11 National Medal Available

Sunday, September 11, is a day Americans will spend in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the United States ten years ago. The United States Mint has produced and is currently selling a special commemorative for the tenth anniversary of that fateful day, named the September 11 National Medal.

September 11 National Medal

Each medal is made of one ounce of .999 fine silver and is struck in a collectible proof quality. They were released for order on June 20, are now shipping, and are currently priced at  $66.95. (Visit the U.S. Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog to place an order.) The medals will remain available until December 2012, or until they reach their maximum mintage of 2 million, as authorized by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-221).

9/11 silver medals are produced at the U.S. Mint facilities in West Point and Philadelphia. Each has a corresponding mint mark on the reverse side denoting where they were made. As of September 5, 2011, the United States Mint has sold 157,467, with 98,911 coming from West Point and 58,556 from Philadelphia.

$10 from each sale benefits the National September 11 Memorial & Museum located at the World Trade Center site. The memorial includes two large reflecting pools of water with the names of the individuals who were killed inscribed around the edges of the pools. The museum -- scheduled to open in September 2012 -- will contain photos and artifacts from the attack sites. To learn more about the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, visit http://www.911memorial.org/.

For additional details about the availability of the 2011 September 11 National Medal and the special designs on each side, the following is the latest press release from the United States Mint.

WASHINGTON - The Nation will pause on Sunday, September 11, 2011, to observe the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. To commemorate this tragic moment in history, the men and women of the United States Mint are proud to strike and make available the official 2011 September 11 National Medal. The medal is authorized by Public Law 111-221, the "National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2010."

The medal's obverse (heads side) design features Lady Liberty holding the Lamp of Remembrance. Behind her are beacons of light stretching skyward. Lady Liberty, the lamp and the light symbolize not only the immeasurable loss on that fateful day, but also the resilience and triumph of those who persevered. Inscriptions are ALWAYS REMEMBER and 2001 - 2011. The medal's obverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

The medal's reverse (tails) design depicts an eagle - symbolizing the strength of the survivors, the families and the Nation - against a backdrop of cascading water. The flowing water is emblematic of peace, serenity, healing and the continuity of life. Inscriptions are HONOR and HOPE. The medal's reverse was designed by Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.

To the extent possible, approximately one-half of the proof quality one-ounce silver medals will be struck at the United States Mint at West Point (featuring the "W" mint mark) and one-half at the United States Mint at Philadelphia (featuring the "P" mint mark). Customers may purchase one or both options. There is no household order limit for this product.

Pricing for the 2011 September 11 National Medal is currently set at $66.95. A $10 surcharge included in the price of each medal is authorized to be paid to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, a private not-for-profit organization overseeing the design and funding of the memorial and museum at the World Trade Center site. The funds will support the museum's operations and maintenance once it is completed. To learn more about the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, please visit http://www.911memorial.org/.

To place an order, visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

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Uncirculated 2011 Mint Set Available February 8

Sales of the United States Mint Uncirculated 2011 Mint Set will begin on February 8 at noon Eastern Time (ET).

US Mint images of Silver Proof Set, 2011 Mint Set, and Proof Set

This year's set contains two folders of 14 coins each-one each from the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia-for a total of 28 coins.

Each includes uncirculated versions of the following 2011 coins:

Five coins from the America the Beautiful Quarters®  Program, honoring Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania), Glacier National Park (Montana), Olympic National Park (Washington), Vicksburg National Military Park (Mississippi) and Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Oklahoma)Four Presidential $1 Coins, honoring Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes and James GarfieldOne Native American $1 Coin with a reverse design emblematic of the peace alliance created by the 1621 Wampanoag TreatyOne Lincoln one-cent coinOne Jefferson 5-cent coinOne Roosevelt dime coinOne Kennedy half-dollar coin

United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image, and feature a brilliant finish.

The 2011 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set is priced at $31.95.  Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).  All domestic orders will be assessed a shipping and handling fee of $4.95.

Customers may also order the 2012 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set and all future sets through the agency's Online Subscription Program.  For more information about this convenient ordering method, visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.

Note:  To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time of February 8, 2011, at noon ET shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.  For more information, please review the United States Mint's Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

[Coin Collecting News editor: For more information on the 2011 Mint Set, also check out this site's page: 2011 Mint Set.]

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2011 Australian Koala Silver Coin and Canadian Grizzly Silver Coin Available

Two new bullion coins have recently been released by major world mints. The Perth Mint of Australia has launched a smaller sized 2011 Koala Silver Coin and the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a 2011 Canadian Grizzly Silver Coin.

Reverses of the Canadian Grizzly silver coin and the Australian Koala silver coin

Both coins are composed of at least 99.9% pure silver and each features a unique reverse design that will only be used in 2011.

The Australian Koala 1/10 oz Silver Coin is advertised by the Perth as "a fantastic and affordable opportunity to own an iconic 99.9% pure silver coin."

Koala silver coin designs change annually. Like the sister 2011-dated 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 10 ounce, and 1 kilo sizes that have been available for some time, the reverse of this smallest coin features a mature koala and juvenile resting in the fork of a eucalyptus tree.

Inscriptions include "AUSTRALIAN KOALA," "2011 1/10 oz 999 SILVER" and The Perth Mint's "P" mint mark.

The 1/10 oz coin, which includes 3.135 grams of silver, has a face value of 10 cents. Due to its size, the coin is easily the most affordable offered by a world mint at a price below $14.

Until replaced by the 2012 issue, demand dictates how many will be produced.

The 1/10 oz Australian Koala Silver Coin may be purchased directly from The Perth Mint's website at http://www.perthmint.com.au/.

The Canadian Grizzly Silver Bullion Coin is not sold directly by the Royal Canadian Mint but instead through its distributors. The selling process (and pricing methodology) is similar to that used by the Mint for its popular Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin.

The Grizzly silver coin is the second issue in the Mint's Canadian Wildlife series and follows the previous 2011-dated issue which features an image of a Wolf. The Mint expects to issue a total of six different wildlife coins at a rate of two each year until 2013.

Inscriptions on the Grizzly coin include "CANADA," "9999," "FINE SILVER, 1 OZ," "ARGENT PUR" and the initials WW for the designer, William Woodruff. The "9999" denotes the purity of silver within the coin, making it one of the purest in the world.

The coin has a denomination of $5 and is limited to a mintage of 1 million.

Both coins also have an obverse bearing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The Canadian coin obverse was created Susanna Blunt. The Australian obverse was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

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Gettysburg National Military Park Quarter Available January 25

The United States Mint announced today that it will hold a launch ceremony to celebrate the release of the new quarter-dollar coin honoring Gettysburg National Military Park on Tuesday, January 25 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Gettysburg National Park Quarter Design - Click Coin Image to Enlarge

The ceremony will be held at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.  Following the event, the public can exchange their cash for $10 rolls of the new Gettysburg National Military Park quarter. 

Attendees 18 years old and younger will receive a free quarter to commemorate the event.

In addition to the launch ceremony, the United States Mint will host a Coin Forum where the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their ideas about the future of the Nation's coinage.  The forum will be held Monday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m. ET in the Ford Motor Company Fund Education Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.

The America the Beautiful Quarters Program is authorized by Public Law 110-456, a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites.  Each year, the public will see five new quarters with reverse (tails side) designs emblematic of each featured national site.  The United States Mint is issuing the quarters in the order in which the honored site was first established as a national site.  The first five coins in the program were issued in 2010.

A digital image of the Gettysburg National Military Park quarter is available athttp://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=Photo#AmericaTheBeautiful.

Additional information about the America the Beautiful Quarters Program can be found athttp://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/atb/.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

[Coin Collecting News editor: For more information on the Gettysburg National Military Park Quarter, also check out this site's page: 2011 Gettysburg Quarter.]

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