RAM Koala Gold

The RAM Koala Gold Coin

The Royal Australian Mint's Koala programme launched in 2024, making it one of the newest sovereign mint bullion series in the world. The 1 oz gold coin is struck from 999.9 fine gold and carries a face value of $100 AUD, backed by the Australian government through its official national mint in Canberra. With a mintage of just 1,000 coins per year, the RAM Koala gold is among the lowest-mintage 1 oz gold bullion coins from any sovereign mint currently in production.

The distinction between the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint matters. The RAM in Canberra produces all of Australia's circulation coinage and is the nation's official mint. The Perth Mint, a Western Australian state government enterprise, has dominated the international bullion market for decades with its own Perth Mint Koala series (running since 2007). The RAM's entry into koala-themed bullion creates an unusual intra-country rivalry, with two government-backed mints issuing competing koala coins for the international market.

For gold buyers, the RAM Koala's primary appeal is scarcity combined with sovereign mint backing. Annual mintages of 1,000 gold coins sit far below the production volumes of comparable products like the 1 oz Gold Kangaroo or 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf. That low mintage creates potential for collector premiums over time, though the series is too new to have established a secondary market track record. The 2024 inaugural issue holds additional numismatic interest as the final Royal Australian Mint coin to carry the Queen Elizabeth II effigy.

Each year brings a new koala reverse design, following the annual-change model that Australian bullion series are known for. The 2025 issue transitioned to the King Charles III obverse portrait by Dan Thorne, marking the first official depiction of King Charles III on Australian coinage. Buyers who collect both the Perth and RAM koala coins across years are building a distinctly Australian bullion collection with two parallel design lineages from the same country.

RAM Koala Gold Coin Specifications

How It Compares by Specification

The RAM Koala gold matches the 999.9 purity standard used by the Perth Mint Koala and the Gold Maple Leaf. Its key differentiator is the dramatically lower mintage. At 1,000 coins per year, it is produced in volumes closer to a proof issue than a standard bullion release. The RAM has announced "triple security protection" for the 2026 gold issue, though specific details of the technology have not been publicly disclosed. Gold is sourced from ethical Australian mining operations.

RAM Koala Gold Tax Treatment by Country

As Australian legal tender struck from 999.9 fine gold, the RAM Koala qualifies for investment gold tax exemptions in most major markets. Its four-nines purity exceeds the thresholds required in every jurisdiction that offers bullion tax relief.

Australia

Investment-grade gold (purity 99.5% or higher) is GST-free under the GST Act 1999. The RAM Koala's 999.9 purity comfortably qualifies. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with a 50% CGT discount available for individuals who hold the coin for more than 12 months.

United Kingdom

Gold coins meeting the investment gold criteria (post-1800 legal tender, purity 900 or higher) are VAT-exempt. The RAM Koala qualifies. It is not CGT-exempt in the UK because it is not British legal tender. UK coins such as the Gold Britannia and the Sovereign receive CGT exemption that foreign coins do not. The annual CGT allowance is currently £3,000.

United States

No federal sales tax applies. State-level treatment varies, with over 35 states exempting investment-grade bullion. The 999.9 purity meets the IRS Section 408(m) requirement for gold held in a self-directed IRA (minimum 99.5% purity), and the coin's sovereign mint origin supports IRA inclusion.

Canada

Gold bullion at 99.5% purity or higher is exempt from GST/HST under the Excise Tax Act. The RAM Koala qualifies. Capital gains are taxed at a 50% inclusion rate (66.67% for gains above CAD $250,000 from June 2024).

New Zealand

Fine gold at 99.5% purity or higher is GST-exempt. The RAM Koala qualifies. New Zealand has no formal capital gains tax, though the IRD may tax profits if the purchase was made with the intention of resale.

Singapore

Qualifies as an Investment Precious Metal (IPM) under Singapore's GST-exempt scheme (gold coins of 99.5% purity or higher that are legal tender). No capital gains tax applies in Singapore.

Hong Kong

No sales tax, no import duty, and no capital gains tax on gold bullion. Hong Kong is fully tax-free for gold purchases and disposals.

RAM Koala vs Other 1 oz Gold Coins

The RAM Koala enters a market dominated by established sovereign mint coins, each with decades of track record. Its positioning as a limited-mintage newcomer creates a distinct profile that suits certain buyers but not others.

Against the Perth Mint Koala, the RAM version shares a koala theme and 999.9 purity but differs in everything else. The Perth Mint offers sizes ranging from 1/10 oz to 1 kg, with higher mintages and greater global liquidity. The Perth Mint's bullion distribution network is more extensive, and its Koala series has been running since 2007. The RAM Koala's advantage is its scarcity (1,000 coins versus significantly higher Perth Mint production) and the prestige of being from Australia's official national mint. Buyers choosing between the two are essentially deciding between liquidity and collectibility.

Compared to the 1 oz Gold Kangaroo (also from the Perth Mint), the RAM Koala occupies a similar niche but with far fewer coins in circulation. The Kangaroo changes its design annually and is one of the world's most traded gold bullion coins. The RAM Koala cannot match its liquidity, but the drastically lower mintage means secondary market premiums are plausible as the series matures.

The 1 oz Gold Britannia shares the RAM Koala's 999.9 purity and silver purity at .999, but the Britannia's CGT exemption for UK buyers gives it a structural tax advantage that no foreign coin can replicate. For non-UK buyers, the comparison comes down to brand recognition and availability, both of which currently favour the Britannia.

The 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf is the global benchmark at 999.9 purity with essentially unlimited mintage. It trades at lower premiums than most sovereign mint coins and is universally accepted by dealers worldwide. The RAM Koala is the opposite: low supply, thinner secondary market, and potentially higher premiums. Maple Leaf buyers prioritise cost efficiency and liquidity; RAM Koala buyers are drawn to scarcity and novelty.

For buyers building an Australian-themed gold collection, the RAM Koala fills a gap that no other coin does. Combining it with the Perth Mint Kangaroo or Koala creates coverage across both of Australia's government mints. For pure bullion stacking where cost per ounce and resale ease are paramount, the established alternatives remain stronger choices until the RAM Koala builds a longer track record.