The Perth Mint

History of the Perth Mint

Like in many other former British colonies, the Perth Mint was established by the British Royal Mint as a branch in 1899.

The refinery was founded with the goal of minting currency for Australia to increase the amount of money in circulation. Until then, Australia faced a shortage of physical currency, as coins had to be minted thousands of miles away.

To achieve this goal of increasing coin production, the refinery purchased most of the gold mined by Australian mining companies. This led to the development of a strong business relationship between mining companies and the Perth Mint—a relationship that continues to this day.

Although Australia eventually became an independent nation, the mint remained under the jurisdiction of the British Royal Mint until 1970. Today, the Perth Mint is fully owned by the Government of Western Australia.

In 1931, when Great Britain abandoned the gold standard, the Perth Mint ceased production of gold sovereigns. By that time, the mint had produced over 106 million gold sovereigns for use in Australia and across the British Empire.

The mint continued producing gold bars and became globally recognized for producing some of the purest gold the world had ever seen. In 1957, the mint produced a 13-troy ounce bar (400 grams) of gold with a purity of 999.999. By comparison, most other mints at the time could only achieve a purity of 999.9. The British Royal Mint was so impressed that it ordered gold from Perth as the benchmark for its own standards.

Perth Mint as a Global Producer

In 1987, authorized by the Australian government, the Perth Mint began the production, sale, and marketing of Australian gold, silver, and platinum coins for investors worldwide. These coins quickly became extremely popular and are now globally recognized and respected investment products.

It is estimated that by the year 2000, the Perth Mint had refined over 4,500 tonnes of gold, equivalent to about 3.25% of all the gold ever mined by humanity.

In October 2011, the Perth Mint made history by producing the largest, heaviest, and most valuable gold coin in the world, breaking the previous record held by the Royal Canadian Mint. The coin is approximately 80 cm in diameter and 12 cm thick, made of 1,012 kilograms of pure gold with a purity of 99.99%. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse shows a red kangaroo. This coin is legal tender in Australia with a face value of 1 million AUD, although the gold content alone was worth 53.5 million AUD at the time of minting.

Investment Gold and Silver Produced by the Perth Mint

It is estimated that the Perth Mint refines around 80% of all gold mined in Australia and nearly 30% of the silver produced in the country.

Some of their most popular products include the Australian Gold Kangaroo, one of the rare legal tender gold coins that features a new design each year. In addition, their Lunar Series is also a popular category, with a different animal from the Chinese zodiac featured annually.

The Perth Mint follows the highest standards in gold production and produces some of the purest gold products in the world. It is accredited by the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) for its gold and silver products—an accreditation considered the highest standard in the precious metals industry. Thanks to its long history, tradition, and global recognition, Perth Mint products are favored by investors worldwide.

What Certifications Does the Perth Mint Offer for Its Products?

Perth Mint products are accredited and certified by the following international institutions:

• LBMA (London Bullion Market Association)

• CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)

• SGE (Shanghai Gold Exchange)

• OSE (Osaka Exchange, Ltd)

• DGCX (Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange)

These accreditations confirm that Perth Mint products meet the highest global standards in terms of quality, purity, and market acceptance.

Are there limited editions for collectors?

Perth Mint is a world-renowned mint that regularly issues limited edition series of its investment and collectible coins and bars. The most notable limited editions from Perth Mint include:

• Lunar Series III – Based on the Chinese zodiac; available in gold, silver, and platinum; a highly sought-after series (e.g., Dragon 2024).

• Australian Kangaroo – Proof Editions – Luxurious packaging, limited mintage, ideal for collectors.

• Wildlife / Deadly & Dangerous Series – Features Australian animals (e.g., Tasmanian devil, crocodile); produced in low quantities.

• Coat of Arms Series – Showcases the coats of arms of Australian states; known for artistic quality and limited availability.

• Gods of Olympus – Depicts figures from Greek mythology (Zeus, Athena, Apollo); extremely collectible.

• Themed Series (Marvel, Star Wars, etc.) – Issued in partnership with Tuvalu; popular among younger collectors.

• Exclusive Editions for Tuvalu and Niue – Various themed and historical coins with limited mintage.

Why Trust Tavex?

Tavex is an official partner of the Perth Mint. Our cooperation with the Perth Mint—as well as with other refiners we work with—aims to expand our catalog of investment-grade gold and silver products.

Thanks to our diverse product range, we are able to offer the most competitive prices on the market without compromising the quality of our services. All products are sourced directly from the Perth Mint.