1/20 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo Gold Coin

Perth Mint's Smallest Kangaroo: Annually Changing Gold at 1/20 oz

The 1/20 oz Kangaroo is the smallest coin in the Perth Mint's flagship gold bullion series. Containing 1.555 grams of .9999 fine gold with a face value of AUD $5, it is Australian legal tender under the Currency Act 1965 and carries the same government-backed purity guarantee as the larger denominations.

The Kangaroo series has been in production since 1986 (originally as the "Australian Gold Nugget"), making it one of the longest-running government gold bullion programmes. The reverse design changes annually, with each year depicting the red kangaroo in a new composition against stylised Australian landscape elements. This annual variety gives each vintage its own identity, adding mild collector interest to what is fundamentally a bullion product.

At the 1/20 oz weight, the Kangaroo competes against a small field: the 1/20 oz Maple Leaf, the 1/20 oz Britannia, and the 1/20 oz Libertad. Most sovereign mints do not produce coins this small; the US Mint's smallest Gold Eagle is the 1/10 oz. The Kangaroo's advantages at this size are its .9999 purity (matching the Maple Leaf and Britannia), its annually changing design, and the Perth Mint's strong dealer network across the Asia-Pacific region.

As with all 1/20 oz gold coins, premiums are high relative to spot. The fixed costs of minting are spread across just 1.555 grams of gold, resulting in premiums typically running 15-25% above melt value. This coin is best suited for gifting, new-buyer entry into gold ownership, or collecting specific annual designs rather than for cost-effective gold accumulation.

1/20 oz Perth Kangaroo Gold Coin Specifications

Kangaroo Gold Denomination Range

The Perth Mint's micro-laser engraved authentication letter appears on the reverse of all Kangaroo bullion coins, detectable under magnification.

The Perth Mint has produced Kangaroo gold coins continuously since 1986, originally as the "Australian Gold Nugget" series featuring famous gold nuggets on the reverse. The transition to kangaroo designs in 1989 improved international marketability. The 2026 edition marks the 40th anniversary, with gold coins carrying a special nugget privy mark honouring the series' origins. At 14.10mm diameter, the 1/20 oz is marginally larger than the 13mm Libertad and 13.92mm Panda at this weight.

1/20 oz Perth Kangaroo Tax Treatment by Country

Australia

GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity). The coin is Australian legal tender under the Currency Act 1965. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with a 50% CGT discount for individuals holding the coin for more than 12 months.

United States

IRA-eligible. The .9999 purity exceeds the IRS minimum of .995 for gold in precious metals IRAs. Must be held by an IRS-approved custodian. Capital gains taxed at the collectibles rate (up to 28%). State sales tax varies; over 35 states exempt bullion.

United Kingdom

VAT-exempt as investment gold. Not CGT-exempt (not UK legal tender). UK buyers looking for CGT-free 1/20 oz gold should consider the 1/20 oz Britannia instead. Gains taxed at individual rates with GBP 3,000 annual allowance.

Canada

GST/HST exempt (gold of 99.5%+ purity). Capital gains at the 50% inclusion rate. Not eligible for RRSPs or TFSAs.

New Zealand

GST-exempt (gold of 99.5%+ purity). The .9999 Kangaroo qualifies comfortably, unlike 22-carat coins which attract 15% GST. No formal capital gains tax, though gains may be taxable as income if bullion was acquired for the purpose of resale.

Singapore and Hong Kong

No GST on investment precious metals in Singapore. The Perth Mint's geographic proximity to Asia gives the Kangaroo particularly strong availability in both Singapore and Hong Kong. No sales tax or CGT in Hong Kong.

1/20 oz Kangaroo vs Other Micro-Fractional Gold Coins

The 1/20 oz Kangaroo's primary competitor is the 1/20 oz Canadian Maple Leaf. Both are .9999 fine gold from respected LBMA-accredited government mints. The Maple Leaf offers Bullion DNA digital authentication, the most sophisticated coin-level anti-counterfeiting system on any bullion coin. The Kangaroo has a micro-laser engraved authentication letter, effective but less advanced. The Maple Leaf has wider availability in North American and European dealer networks; the Kangaroo is stronger in Asia-Pacific markets. Premiums are broadly comparable.

The 1/20 oz Britannia matches the Kangaroo on purity (.9999) and is the clear choice for UK buyers, where its CGT exemption saves real money on disposal. It also carries the Royal Mint's four-feature security suite from 2021 onwards. For non-UK buyers without a CGT preference, the Kangaroo's annually changing designs provide a visual variety that the Britannia, with its annually refreshed but thematically consistent reverse, also offers to a degree.

The 1/20 oz Gold Panda (pre-2016 only; the modern equivalent is a 1-gram coin with 36% less gold) shares the annually changing design concept and is a fellow Asia-Pacific coin. The Panda is .999 purity (lower than the Kangaroo's .9999), carries higher counterfeiting risk, and is generally not IRA-eligible. The Kangaroo is the more practical choice by most measures, though the Panda has stronger cultural collector demand in China and surrounding markets.

The 1/20 oz Libertad at .999 purity trades at the highest premiums of any coin at this weight, driven by extremely low mintages. It appeals to collectors willing to pay for scarcity. The Kangaroo offers better value per gram of gold and better liquidity.

Among the 1/20 oz options, the Kangaroo represents a balanced middle ground: government-backed .9999 gold, IRA-eligible, annually changing designs for collector appeal, and competitive premiums. Its main limitation is the absence of UK CGT exemption, which makes the Britannia the default choice for UK buyers at this weight.