The Australian Silver Koala Series debuted from the Perth Mint in 2007, and since that time has garnered a lot of devoted followers with its new designs each year. Like other Perth Mint annual wildlife coins, the Silver Koala offers a new image of the marsupial species on the reverse field each year. In 2020, the Perth Mint delivered a new first in this beloved series with the first-ever incuse strike of an Australian Koala coin. As you shop new Australian Silver in 2020, take a moment to learn more about this impressive new release from the Perth Mint of Western Australia.
New Reverse Koala Design
The reverse face of the new 2020 1 oz Australian Silver Incuse Koala Coin features the latest design of the koala in the series. Often inaccurately referred to as the koala bear, the koala is actually a species of marsupial that is endemic to the Australian continent. The only extant member of its scientific family, the closest living relative of the koala is the wombat. The creatures have been depicted in cave art and mythological tales of indigenous Australians for more than a thousand years.
For the new 2020 Australian Silver Koala design, the marsupial is featured climbing the trunk of a tree. Its sharp claws give it the power to clutch onto tree branches and trunks as it climbs. The large, fluffy ears and distinctive nose of the koala are captured beautifully in this design. Inscriptions on this face of the coin include the date of issue, weight, purity, and metal content, as well as the “P” mint mark of the Perth Mint and the name of the coin series.
Stunning Queen Elizabeth II Portrait on the Obverse
For just the second year, the obverse of the 2020 1 oz Australian Silver Koalas features the sixth-generation bust of Queen Elizabeth II. This impressive portrait of the Queen was created for the Royal Mint of England in 2015 by Jody Clark. Like other portraits, it was later adapted for use on Australian coins. This bust of the Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem Crown shows the monarch at the age of 89 and was first used on an Australian coin in 2018, with wider adoption across all series in 2019. This is the first bust of the Queen on Australian coins since 1966 to include her broader neckline and shoulders in the design field. Inscriptions on this face of the coin identify the monarch, nation of issue, and face value of the coin.
Details of the Release
The 2020 1 oz Australian Silver Incuse Koala Coin’s most impressive detail is its incuse strike. While traditional coin designs across BU, Proof, and High Relief versions of coins are engraved onto the surface of the coin with 3D visuals, an incuse strike is different. Rarely used by mints, an incuse strike stamps the design element into the surface of the coin. This creates a different visual effect for the design when compared to engraved 3D reliefs. The obverse design of Queen Elizabeth II retains a traditional high-relief strike with enhanced visual depth to the background field and greater 3D relief for the portrait of Her Majesty.
The Perth Mint capped the mintage of these coins at 5,000 silver pieces in total. The coins all feature 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure silver content and have a legal tender value of $1 (AUD). The coins are packaged individually inside of a classic Perth Mint display with a clear lid. The coin and case ship together inside of a blue, koala-themed shipping box with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity included.
Brief History of the Silver Koala
The Australian Silver Koala Series debuted at the Perth Mint in 2007. When it was introduced, the Silver Koala was just the second series of its kind, behind the Australian Silver Kookaburra, to feature native wildlife species from the Australian continent. The Silver Kookaburra had debuted in 1990 and set the tone with its use of new designs on the reverse each year. Since its introduction, the Silver Koala has followed that tradition in using a new image of the koala on its reverse each year. The success of the Silver Kookaburra and Silver Koala laid the foundation for the growth of Australian Silver bullion collections in the years to come, with series such as the Silver Wedge Tail Eagle, Silver Kangaroo, and Silver Emu released to a positive reception by investors and collectors.
Get Your Incuse Koala Now at JM Bullion
The new Australian Silver Incuse Koala is now available to purchase from JM Bullion. If you have any questions about this exciting collectible piece, please feel free to contact us. JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508, online using our live chat, and via our email address. We also encourage you to read our weekly blog posts and follow us on Facebook for more information and details on upcoming releases.
