Emu Gold

Perth Mint Emu Gold Coins

The Emu is an annual bullion coin series from the Perth Mint, launched in 2018 with a fresh artistic interpretation of Australia's iconic flightless bird each year. The gold version is struck in .9999 fine gold (four nines purity) with a fixed annual mintage of just 5,000 coins, making it one of the most limited-mintage gold bullion coins from any major sovereign mint.

The emu is one of Australia's two coat-of-arms animals, alongside the kangaroo. They were chosen because neither can easily walk backwards, symbolising national progress. The coin series celebrates this national symbol through designs by different artists each year, showing emus in natural behaviours: walking, resting, caring for chicks, and interacting with their environment.

The 1 oz gold Emu is Australian legal tender with a face value of AUD $100. From 2024 onwards, the obverse transitioned from the Queen Elizabeth II portrait to the King Charles III effigy by Dan Thorne. The 2024 coin included a special "P125" mintmark commemorating the Perth Mint's 125th anniversary.

The 5,000-piece annual gold mintage positions the Emu firmly in collector-bullion territory. Standard Perth Mint bullion products like the Kangaroo have vastly higher production runs. The Emu's low mintage means early years, particularly the 2018 inaugural issue, already trade at significant collector premiums above their gold content value.

Emu Gold Coin Specifications

Annual Designs

The 1 oz gold Emu is slightly smaller in diameter than many competitor 1 oz gold coins, measuring 32.6 mm versus the Maple Leaf's 30 mm and the Britannia's 32.69 mm. The edge is reeded. A 1 kilo gold Emu has also been produced with a mintage of just 1 coin in some years, making it an extreme rarity.

Each coin ships in a protective acrylic capsule. Security features include Perth Mint's standard micro-laser engraved letter on the reverse, detectable only under magnification. The .9999 purity (four nines) matches or exceeds the purity of the Royal Canadian Mint's Maple Leaf, the highest purity standard for mass-market silver bullion coins.

Emu Gold Coin Tax Treatment by Country

The Emu is Australian legal tender issued by the Perth Mint with AUD $100 face value. The .9999 purity comfortably exceeds the investment gold threshold in all major markets.

Purchase Tax

• Australia: GST-free. Gold bullion coins from the Perth Mint at .995+ purity qualify as investment-grade precious metals under the GST Act.
• United Kingdom: VAT-free as investment gold. Not UK legal tender, so not CGT-exempt. Gains on disposal are subject to CGT at the individual's rate after the £3,000 annual allowance.
• European Union: VAT-exempt as investment gold under the EU Directive.
• United States: Perth Mint .9999 gold coins meet IRA fineness requirements. State sales tax exemptions for bullion apply in most states.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme for qualifying gold coins.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax.

Capital Gains and Retirement Accounts

In the United States, Perth Mint .9999 gold coins meet the IRS Section 408(m) fineness requirement of .995+ for IRA eligibility. The Emu's legal tender status and sovereign mint origin support its classification as a qualifying bullion coin for self-directed precious metals IRAs. Canadian investors can hold qualifying gold bullion in RRSP and TFSA accounts.

Capital Gains

UK buyers should note that the Emu is not CGT-exempt. For CGT-free gold in the UK, the Britannia and Sovereign remain the standard choices. In Australia, a 50% CGT discount applies for individuals holding gold for longer than 12 months. The US treats physical gold as a collectible, taxed at a maximum long-term rate of 28%.

Emu vs Kangaroo, Kookaburra, and Koala

Among Perth Mint series, the Kangaroo is the closest comparison. The Kangaroo is Perth Mint's mass-market gold bullion coin with very high mintages and premiums closer to spot. It also changes design annually, but its high production volume means individual years rarely command collector premiums. The Emu's 5,000-piece gold mintage is a fraction of the Kangaroo's output, which directly supports higher secondary market pricing for early years.

The Kookaburra has run since 1990 with annual design changes but typically has substantially higher mintages than the Emu. The Koala follows a similar pattern. Both compete for the "annual design, Australian wildlife" collector segment, but neither matches the Emu's combination of low mintage and .9999 purity.

Against international competitors, the Emu occupies a niche. Major sovereign bullion coins like the Maple Leaf, Britannia, and American Eagle have unlimited or very high mintages and are priced closer to spot. These are better for pure bullion accumulation. The Emu appeals to buyers who want Australian legal tender gold with genuine scarcity and annual collectibility, accepting the higher premium that comes with a 5,000-coin run.

The series is ongoing with no announced end date, unlike the completed Call of the Wild from the Royal Canadian Mint. Collectors can continue adding new years to their holdings, though the 2018 inaugural year has already established itself as the premium year in the secondary market.