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About the 1 oz Australia Zoo Silver Coin
Conservation-Themed Bullion from the Royal Australian Mint
The 1 oz Royal Australian Mint Australia Zoo silver coin is part of a five-year series (2020-2024) produced in partnership with Australia Zoo, the wildlife conservation park founded by Steve Irwin and operated by the Irwin family in Beerwah, Queensland. Each annual release features a different exotic (non-native-to-Australia) animal species housed at Australia Zoo, struck in .999 fine silver as official Australian legal tender with a $1 AUD face value.
The series ran for exactly five releases as planned: Sumatran Tiger (2020), Cheetah (2021), Elephant (2022), Southern White Rhinoceros (2023), and Giraffe (2024). With 25,000 silver coins minted per year, the Australia Zoo series has substantially lower production numbers than Perth Mint's flagship programmes like the Kangaroo or Kookaburra (which produce 300,000-500,000+ annually). This positions the series between standard bullion and semi-numismatic territory.
The choice to feature non-native species distinguishes this series from virtually every other Australian wildlife coin programme. Perth Mint's extensive catalogue focuses on kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, and other indigenous fauna. The Australia Zoo series selected threatened exotic animals specifically to highlight conservation work, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
Gold versions were also produced at an extremely limited 250 pieces per year, placing those among the rarest modern sovereign gold bullion coins. The silver versions, at 25,000 mintage, remain accessible but are considerably scarcer than mass-market bullion products.
Australia Zoo Silver Coin Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 troy ounce (31.103 g) |
| Purity | .999 fine silver |
| Diameter | 40.0 mm |
| Denomination | $1 AUD |
| Finish | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Mintage per issue | 25,000 |
| Legal tender | Yes (Australia) |
| Issuing mint | Royal Australian Mint (Canberra) |
Complete Series Releases
| Year | Animal | Conservation Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sumatran Tiger | Fewer than 400 remaining in the wild |
| 2021 | Cheetah | Vulnerable; declining African population |
| 2022 | Sumatran Elephant (silver) | Critically endangered subspecies |
| 2023 | Southern White Rhinoceros | Third-most-threatened rhino species |
| 2024 | Giraffe | Final release in series |
Each annual release features different poses of the same animal for the gold and silver versions. The 2021 Cheetah, for example, shows the animal at full sprint on the silver coin and at rest on the gold. The 2022 release went further, featuring entirely different elephant subspecies: Sumatran on silver, African on gold.
Australia Zoo Coin Tax Treatment
As official Australian legal tender struck by the Royal Australian Mint at .999 purity, the Australia Zoo silver coin qualifies for investment-grade tax treatment in several key markets.
- Australia: GST-free as investment-grade precious metal legal tender from the Royal Australian Mint. The .999 purity exceeds the 99.9% threshold for the investment precious metals GST exemption.
- United Kingdom: The gold version is VAT-free as recognised investment gold. Silver versions are subject to 20% VAT on import. Not CGT-exempt (only UK legal tender coins qualify for that). Available on the UK secondary market with margin scheme pricing from dealers like Atkinsons.
- United States: IRA-eligible as sovereign-issued .999 silver legal tender. Sales tax exemption in most bullion-friendly states. Capital gains taxed at up to 28% as collectibles.
- European Union: Gold versions are VAT-exempt as investment gold (legal tender, .900+ purity). Silver versions subject to local VAT rates (17-27%). Distributed in Europe primarily through EMK in Germany.
- New Zealand: Silver at .999 purity in coin form from a sovereign mint qualifies for GST exemption as fine bullion.
- Singapore: Australian legal tender silver coins may qualify for IPM exemption if listed on the MAS-approved coin list.
1 oz Australia Zoo Silver Coin: frequently asked questions
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The cheapest 1oz Australia Zoo silver coin currently listed is $84.41 from APMEX. Prices are compared across 2 dealers and reflect live market rates. Use the table above to compare all current offers.
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The Australia Zoo series is a five-coin program issued by the Royal Australian Mint in partnership with Australia Zoo, the Irwin family's wildlife conservation park in Queensland. Running from 2020 to 2024, each annual release features a different threatened exotic animal in 1 troy oz of .999 fine silver with a $1 AUD face value. The series concluded with the 2024 Giraffe coin.
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Each Australia Zoo silver coin contains 1 oz of .999 fine silver. At the current $65.79 silver spot price, that metal content is worth approximately that figure in your chosen currency. The coin's buy price will also include a dealer premium above melt value.