1/4 oz War in the Pacific Gold Coin

A Quarter Ounce of Gold Honouring the Pacific Alliance

The 1/4 oz War in the Pacific gold coin is a Perth Mint bullion coin struck in .9999 fine gold, produced from 2013 onwards to commemorate the Allied campaign in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. It carries legal tender status backed by the Australian government with a face value of $25 AUD, and it is sold as affordable bullion rather than a high-premium numismatic piece.

The series stands out for an unusual reason: it is explicitly binational. Bullion coin designs almost always celebrate national symbols, but this programme honours the wartime partnership between Australian and American forces in the engagements against Japan. Two reverse designs have been marketed under the broader War in the Pacific umbrella. The Australian/American Memorial design shows a stylised eagle perched atop a globe, flanked by the American flag and stars from the Australian flag, with the inscription WAR IN THE PACIFIC 1941-1945. The Victory in the Pacific design shows an American eagle in flight clutching an olive branch, referencing the 1945 surrender. The obverse on both carries Ian Rank-Broadley's right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, used on Perth Mint coins from 1998.

At a quarter troy ounce (7.78g), this coin sits in the middle of the fractional gold range. The format suits buyers who want sovereign-mint gold at a price point that allows regular monthly purchases, and 1/4 oz gold coins offer meaningfully lower premiums than 1/10 oz pieces while keeping the outlay roughly half that of a 1/2 oz coin. Unlike the Perth Mint's Kangaroo or Kookaburra series, the War in the Pacific does not change its design annually, which reduces collector interest but makes it a straightforward bullion product. Weight and purity are guaranteed by the Perth Mint, a government-owned entity under the Government of Western Australia.

1/4 oz War in the Pacific Gold Coin Specifications

The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with inscriptions for ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, the weight, purity, and face value. The reverse depends on the variant: the Australian/American Memorial design carries an eagle atop a globe between the two nations' flags, and the Victory in the Pacific design carries an eagle with an olive branch above both flags. The gold series also includes a 1/10 oz gold version with a $15 AUD face value, and a 1/2 oz silver coin was issued under the same programme.

No specific anti-counterfeiting features have been documented beyond standard Perth Mint production quality, but the precise weight and the tight tolerances of sovereign-mint coins make basic verification straightforward. Mintage for the bullion versions was described by the Perth Mint as limited production, though specific figures have not been publicly disclosed.

Tax Treatment of the 1/4 oz War in the Pacific Gold Coin

At .9999 fineness this coin qualifies as investment gold in every major jurisdiction, so purchase taxes are rarely an issue. The disposal-tax picture varies more by country.

• United Kingdom: VAT-free as investment gold (the threshold is 995 fineness, comfortably met). It is Australian legal tender, not UK legal tender, so gains are subject to Capital Gains Tax. UK buyers wanting CGT exemption at this weight would look at the 1/4 oz gold Britannia instead.
• United States: IRA-eligible, since the .9999 purity exceeds the 99.5% requirement of IRS Section 408(m). Sales tax depends on the buyer's state; most states exempt bullion. Long-term gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity). CGT applies on disposal, with a 50% discount for individuals holding longer than 12 months.
• Canada: 0% GST/HST, as gold refined to 99.5%+ purity in coin form is federally exempt. Capital gains are taxable at the 50% inclusion rate.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt, since gold at 99.5%+ purity qualifies as fine bullion. NZ has no formal capital gains tax.
• Singapore and Hong Kong: Singapore exempts qualifying Investment Precious Metals from GST and levies no capital gains tax. Hong Kong has no sales tax, no import duty, and no CGT.

War in the Pacific vs Eagle, Britannia, and Kangaroo at 1/4 oz

Every major world mint produces a 1/4 oz coin in its flagship series, so this coin competes in a crowded field. Quarter-ounce gold from sovereign mints typically carries premiums of roughly 7-12% over spot, against 3-5% for 1 oz coins, so the choice at this weight is mostly about purity, tax position, and recognition.

Against the 1/4 oz American Gold Eagle, the War in the Pacific offers higher purity: .9999 fine versus the Eagle's .9167 (22ct). Both contain the stated fine gold content and both are IRA-eligible, the Eagle by specific statutory exemption. The Eagle has stronger recognition in the US market, where this coin was nonetheless aimed; the US distribution focus shaped the series from the start. Against the 1/4 oz gold Britannia, the purity matches at .9999, but the Britannia is CGT-exempt for UK residents and carries advanced security features, which the War in the Pacific lacks. UK buyers have little reason to prefer the Perth Mint coin unless the price is meaningfully better.

Within the Perth Mint's own range, the gold Kangaroo is the closer comparison. The Kangaroo changes its reverse design annually, which sustains collector interest; the War in the Pacific keeps a static design and competes purely on price. The mint's Battle of the Coral Sea coin occupies the same commemorative WWII niche. Premiums on the War in the Pacific are typically modest and in line with other Perth Mint bullion coins, so when dealers discount it against the flagship series it can be an inexpensive way to hold .9999 quarter-ounce gold with an Australian government guarantee.