A series of silver coins featuring the similarly cute koala bear from Australia was first introduced by the Perth Mint of Australia in 2007. The Koala silver coin series became very sought after immediately after its release, as the cute motif, meticulous craftsmanship and yearly changing motif ensure that the coins can not be ignored.
One side of the coin shows an adult koala with a young hanging on its back. The koala is one of the many animal symbols of Australia. Koalas are arboreal marsupials and the only living representative of the Phascolarctidae family. Their closest relatives are wombats. Koalas grow up to 85 cm and weigh up to 15 kg. The color of the thick fur is a combination of gray and brown. They feed on eucalyptus leaves, in the canopy of which they also live. The motifs on the coin depict one or more koalas in their natural environment. In addition to the main motif, since 2011 the page also contains the inscription of the series “AUSTRALIAN KOALA”, the year, weight and purity of the silver in the coins. Until 2017, the coins were made of 999/1000 purity silver, and from 2018 onward, 999.9/1000. They are an official legal tender approved by the Australian government.
The other side of the coin is dedicated to the motif of the ruler of the Commonwealth of Nations, this time probably for the last time to Queen Elizabeth II. As a special feature of the year 2023, the year of the beginning and end of the reign (1952-2022) is marked above her portrait. Koala coins feature the Queen's 4th portrait up to and including 2018. In 2019, as on all other silver coins from the Perth Mint, the Queen is depicted with a 6th, bust portrait.
The edge of the coins is serrated.
Silver coins from the Koala series are a good investment, as the purchase price of the current years competes with other silver coins, while the numismatic-ally increased slightly for older years.
1954- | Australia
