1 oz Coat of Arms Silver Coin

Royal Australian Mint's Artistic State-by-State Series

The 1 oz Royal Australian Mint Coat of Arms Silver Coin is a 999.9 fine silver coin from the Australia's Coat of Arms series, launched in 2021. Each annual release reimagines the coat of arms of a different Australian state or territory as a naturalistic wildlife and botanical composition, transforming traditional heraldic elements into artistic depictions of living animals and native flora.

The series comes from the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in Canberra, Australia's national mint and the producer of all Australian circulation coinage. This distinguishes it from Perth Mint products: the RAM is a Commonwealth entity while the Perth Mint is owned by the Western Australian state government. Both are government mints, but the RAM holds the position of Australia's official coinage authority.

The coin's most distinctive feature is its dual-design approach. Both faces carry thematic artistic elements from the featured coat of arms, rather than the conventional bullion layout where one side is reserved entirely for the monarch's portrait. This is unusual among sovereign bullion programmes, where the obverse effigy typically occupies an entire face without competing design elements. The result is a more visually ambitious product than standard bullion.

Mintage is moderate: 50,000 for the silver 1 oz and 5,000 for the gold 1 oz. These numbers sit below Perth Mint's mass-market programmes (unlimited or 300,000+) but above true limited-edition proof issues. If the series covers all six states, two territories, and the Commonwealth design, it will comprise nine releases, making it one of Australia's more structured thematic bullion programmes.

The inaugural 2021 release drew from the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, featuring a naturalised mother kangaroo with joey, the Commonwealth Star with seven points, and state floral emblems on the reverse, with an emu hovering over a nest on the obverse. The 2022 release featured New South Wales, and the 2023 release depicted Queensland with a brolga, cow, ram, and elements from the 1977 Queensland Coat of Arms.

1 oz Royal Australian Mint Coat of Arms Specifications

Releases to Date

The series is expected to continue through Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the ACT, though later releases have not been officially confirmed. A complete set would comprise nine coins.

Design Approach

Rather than reproducing heraldic coats of arms in their formal style, designer Aaron Baggio (confirmed for the 2021 release) translates the heraldic fauna and flora into naturalistic compositions. The kangaroo and emu from the Commonwealth arms appear as living animals rather than stylised supporters. This approach sets the series apart visually from most bullion coins, which tend toward either traditional heraldic or simple symbolic designs.

Tax Treatment for the 1 oz Coat of Arms Silver Coin

As Australian legal tender from the Royal Australian Mint, the Coat of Arms coin receives generally favourable tax treatment. Its 999.9 purity exceeds the investment-grade thresholds in all major markets.

Australia

Investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ purity is GST-free. The 999.9 purity qualifies. Capital gains tax applies, with a 50% CGT discount for assets held over 12 months.

United Kingdom

Subject to 20% VAT on purchase. As a Commonwealth legal tender coin, the gold version may qualify for CGT exemption in the UK, but the silver version does not, as silver coins are not treated the same as gold coins for CGT purposes. Silver Coat of Arms coins are subject to Capital Gains Tax on disposal (18%/24% rate, £3,000 annual allowance). Pre-owned coins may be available under the margin scheme.

United States

The 999.9 purity exceeds the IRS 99.9% minimum for IRA inclusion. State sales tax varies. Federal capital gains on silver are taxed at the 28% collectibles rate.

Canada

Silver at 99.9%+ purity from recognised mints is GST/HST exempt. The 999.9 fineness comfortably qualifies.

European Union

Silver coins are subject to local VAT rates across the EU. No investment silver exemption applies. The margin scheme may be available for secondary market purchases in some countries.

Singapore

Silver at 99.9%+ purity from accredited sources qualifies as Investment Precious Metals (GST-exempt). No capital gains tax.

New Zealand

Fine silver at 99.9%+ purity is GST-exempt. No formal capital gains tax, though gains may be taxable as income in some circumstances.

Hong Kong

No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.

Coat of Arms vs Other Australian Silver Coins

The Coat of Arms series competes within Australia's own bullion ecosystem and against international sovereign alternatives. Its position is defined by the Royal Australian Mint's national status, moderate mintage, and the dual-design artistic approach.

Against Perth Mint's Australian Wildlife sub-series, the Coat of Arms offers a different kind of collector appeal. The Perth Wildlife coins (Emu, Quokka) have lower mintages (30,000 vs 50,000) and a purely animal-focused design. The Coat of Arms brings in botanical and heraldic elements alongside fauna, creating more complex compositions. Both are 9999 fine (or 999.9 for the Coat of Arms) and Australian legal tender. The Perth Mint has broader international dealer distribution, particularly in the US and Asian markets, where Perth products are well-established. The RAM is better known domestically.

Against Perth Mint's Kangaroo and Perth Lunar, the Coat of Arms is more limited in mintage and less liquid on the secondary market. The Lunar has a three-decade track record and strong Asian collector demand. The Kangaroo is the mass-market default for Perth Mint silver with unlimited mintage and the lowest premiums. The Coat of Arms targets a buyer who wants something with more artistic and thematic depth than the Kangaroo, at a lower price point than the most collectible Perth Mint offerings.

Against international rivals, the Silver Britannia offers CGT exemption in the UK (the Coat of Arms does not). The Silver Maple Leaf at 9999 purity has unlimited mintage and Bullion DNA security. The Coat of Arms coin's 50,000 mintage and dual-design format give it more collector character than either of these mainstream products, but at the cost of wider premiums and narrower dealer availability outside Australia.

The gold version at 5,000 mintage is relatively scarce for a government bullion coin and may develop stronger secondary market interest than the silver version. For buyers specifically wanting a limited Australian government gold coin with artistic ambition, the Coat of Arms gold at $100 AUD face value is a distinctive product in a category dominated by Perth Mint.