1/10 oz Royal Australian Mint Kangaroo Gold Coin

The 1/10 oz Royal Australian Mint Kangaroo Gold Coin

The 1/10 oz RAM Kangaroo is a fractional gold coin from the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in Canberra, distinct from the more widely known Perth Mint Kangaroo. Australia is unusual in having two government-owned mints producing competing legal tender bullion: the Perth Mint operates under the Government of Western Australia, while the RAM operates under the federal government. The two Kangaroo coins share a name and legal tender status but come from different institutions with different specifications and design approaches.

The RAM's modern bullion Kangaroo programme launched in 2016, though the mint had produced kangaroo-themed numismatic and proof coins since 1993. The defining feature of the RAM Kangaroo is its annually changing reverse design, with each year depicting a different kangaroo scene. The 2016-2019 releases formed a distinctive "Seasons Change" subset, following the seasonal life cycle of the kangaroo through winter, spring, summer, and autumn. This four-year thematic run is unique within the series and has particular collector appeal.

At .9999 fine, the RAM Kangaroo matches the purity of the 1/10 oz Canadian Maple Leaf and the Perth Mint's own Kangaroo. The coin carries a face value and Australian legal tender status. Unlike the Perth Mint Kangaroo, which uses the same Dr. Stuart Devlin red kangaroo design year after year, the RAM's annual design changes make completed year sets attractive to collectors, similar to the Chinese Gold Panda.

Production volumes for the RAM Kangaroo are lower than the Perth Mint version, contributing to slightly higher premiums. For buyers who prioritise the lowest cost per ounce of gold, the Perth Mint Kangaroo or the 1/10 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo offers better value. The RAM Kangaroo is aimed at those who want Australian sovereign gold with annual design variety and the added collector interest that brings.

1/10 oz RAM Kangaroo Technical Details

Design

The obverse carries the portrait of the reigning monarch: Queen Elizabeth II through 2022, King Charles III from 2023. The reverse features a new kangaroo composition each year, designed by RAM artists in Canberra.

The 2016-2019 "Seasons Change" subset is the series' most distinctive run. It tracked a kangaroo through the Australian seasons: winter (a joey sheltering in its mother's pouch), spring (an Eastern Grey Kangaroo and joey beneath spring leaves, by Stevan Stojanovic), summer, and autumn. This four-year narrative arc created a cohesive set that has particular collector appeal as a complete group.

Post-2020 designs continue the annual variation with different kangaroo themes and compositions. The RAM's approach contrasts with the Perth Mint Kangaroo, which uses the same Dr. Stuart Devlin red kangaroo design from year to year. At the 1 oz silver size, the RAM coin has a 40.0 mm diameter compared to the Perth Mint's 40.6 mm, a physical distinction that helps differentiate the two in hand. Both coins share the same .9999 purity standard, upgraded from .999 around 2014.

Tax Treatment of the 1/10 oz RAM Kangaroo Gold Coin

Australia

The RAM Kangaroo is Australian legal tender. At .9999 fine, it is classified as investment-grade gold and is GST-exempt under Australian tax law covering precious metals at 99.5%+ purity in bar, ingot, or coin form. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with a 50% CGT discount for individuals holding the coin for more than 12 months.

United States

At .9999 fine, the RAM Kangaroo meets the IRS minimum purity of .995 for gold in Individual Retirement Accounts. The Perth Mint Kangaroo is commonly listed as IRA-eligible; the RAM version should qualify on the same basis under the generic bullion provision, though it is less commonly stocked by US retirement account custodians. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%. Sales tax varies by state.

United Kingdom

VAT-exempt as investment gold. Not UK legal tender, so capital gains are subject to CGT at the individual's marginal rate (18% basic, 24% higher). Some UK dealers have listed RAM Kangaroos with varying CGT interpretations; buyers should verify with tax advice. For CGT-exempt fractional gold, UK buyers should consider the 1/10 oz Gold Britannia.

European Union

Likely qualifies as investment gold under EU Directive 98/80/EC, making it VAT-exempt. Capital gains treatment varies by country.

Canada

Exempt from GST/HST as gold at 99.5%+ purity. Capital gains taxable at a 50% inclusion rate. Provincial sales tax on silver; gold is federally exempt.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore classifies qualifying gold at 99.5%+ purity as Investment Precious Metals (IPM), exempt from 9% GST. No capital gains tax. Hong Kong levies no sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax.

1/10 oz RAM Kangaroo vs Perth Mint Kangaroo and International Alternatives

vs 1/10 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo

The 1/10 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo is the most natural comparison. Both are .9999 fine Australian legal tender gold coins. The Perth Mint version uses a fixed design (Dr. Stuart Devlin's red kangaroo) each year, while the RAM changes its design annually. The Perth Mint has higher production volumes, wider global distribution, and typically lower premiums. The RAM version attracts collectors through its design variety and the "Seasons Change" subset narrative. For pure weight accumulation, the Perth Mint Kangaroo is more cost-effective. For building a varied collection, the RAM offers more visual interest.

vs 1/10 oz Canadian Maple Leaf

The 1/10 oz Gold Maple Leaf is .9999 fine with decades of global market presence, MintShield anti-fingerprint coating, and a micro-engraved laser security mark. The Maple Leaf has the deepest secondary market of any .9999 fine fractional gold coin. The RAM Kangaroo offers annual design variation and Australian provenance but cannot match the Maple Leaf's liquidity or dealer recognition outside Australia.

vs 1/10 oz Perth Mint Koala

The 1/10 oz Koala is another .9999 fine Australian coin with annual design changes, from the Perth Mint rather than the RAM. Both target the collector-oriented bullion buyer. The Koala has a longer production history (the platinum version ran from 1988 to 2000) and potentially stronger secondary market recognition among international collectors. The RAM Kangaroo offers a distinctly different Australian identity through its Canberra mint origin and the "Seasons Change" thematic approach.