1 oz Bird of Paradise Silver Coin

Perth Mint's Short-Lived Four-Nines Silver Series

The 1 oz Bird of Paradise silver coin is a discontinued Perth Mint series that ran for just two years, 2018 and 2019, with each release featuring a different species from the Australasian bird-of-paradise family. The 2018 coin depicts Victoria's Riflebird, the only bird-of-paradise found on mainland Australia (restricted to the tropical rainforests of far north Queensland), and the 2019 coin features the Trumpet Manucode from New Guinea's lowland forests.

The series' most distinctive feature is its .9999 fine silver purity. Most Perth Mint silver bullion, including the 1 oz Silver Kangaroo, uses .999 silver. The four-nines standard places the Bird of Paradise alongside the 1 oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf in a small group of silver bullion coins struck to the highest commercially available purity. For buyers who value purity as a quality signal or who need to meet specific regulatory thresholds (such as US IRA requirements at .999+), the extra nine is a genuine differentiator.

With production capped at 50,000 silver coins per year, the Bird of Paradise had far lower mintage than Perth Mint's ongoing series. The Kangaroo and 1 oz Silver Kookaburra are produced in much larger quantities. This scarcity, combined with the two-year cancellation, means secondary market premiums have risen above typical Perth Mint bullion levels. The Bird of Paradise now trades more as a low-mintage collectible than as a pure bullion product.

The series was intended to showcase different bird-of-paradise species each year, drawing on the Australasian region's status as the global centre of diversity for these birds (over 40 species, concentrated in New Guinea and eastern Australia). Only two of those 40+ species were featured before the programme ended, leaving considerable unrealised potential.

Bird of Paradise Silver Coin Specifications

A proof silver version was also produced for the 2019 release only, limited to 2,500 pieces, individually encapsulated with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The gold version (1 oz, .9999 fine, $100 AUD face value) had a mintage of just 5,000 per year.

Annual Designs

The 2018 reverse shows the riflebird with wings spread wide and beak open, executing its dramatic mating display. The Victoria's Riflebird was named after Queen Victoria, making it a fitting subject for a coin that originally bore Elizabeth II's portrait on the obverse (Ian Rank-Broadley design). The 2019 Manucodia is depicted calling from a branch. Unlike most birds-of-paradise, Trumpet Manucodes are monogamous, an unusual trait in a family known for elaborate male courtship displays and polygynous mating systems.

Tax Status of the Bird of Paradise Silver Coin

As Australian legal tender issued under the Currency Act 1965, the Bird of Paradise carries sovereign status that affects its tax treatment in several key markets.

Australia

The coin is GST-free as investment-grade precious metal from the Perth Mint. Australia exempts gold at .995+ and silver at .999+ purity in forms commonly traded on commodity markets. The Bird of Paradise exceeds the silver threshold at .9999.

United States

The .9999 silver purity exceeds the IRS minimum of .999 for precious metals IRA accounts. Combined with its sovereign mint status, the Bird of Paradise is IRA-eligible. State sales tax varies, with roughly 35 states exempting bullion purchases and others imposing thresholds (California exempts above $2,000, Florida above $500, New York above $1,000).

United Kingdom

Silver coins from non-UK mints are subject to 20% VAT on purchase. Pre-owned Perth Mint silver can sometimes be found under the margin scheme from UK dealers such as Atkinsons, where VAT applies only to the dealer's margin. The Bird of Paradise is not CGT-exempt because it is not UK legal tender; only coins issued by The Royal Mint (such as the 1 oz Silver Britannia) carry that exemption.

Canada

Silver at .995+ purity in coin form is exempt from GST/HST in Canada. The .9999 purity comfortably clears this threshold.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore exempts Investment Precious Metals (IPM) from GST, covering silver at .999+ purity from recognised mints. Hong Kong imposes no sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax on precious metals. LPM, the Hong Kong-based dealer, handled some Perth Mint distribution for Asian markets during this period.

New Zealand

Fine silver bullion at .999+ purity is GST-exempt in New Zealand. The Bird of Paradise qualifies.

Bird of Paradise vs Other Perth Mint Silver Coins

Within Perth Mint's own lineup, the Bird of Paradise occupied a unique position. The 1 oz Silver Kookaburra and 1 oz Silver Kangaroo are ongoing series with higher mintages and wider availability, making them more practical for pure silver accumulation. The Kookaburra has been in production since 1990, giving it extensive dealer recognition and consistent secondary market demand.

The Bird of Paradise matched the Maple Leaf at .9999 silver purity, a standard that none of Perth Mint's other silver bullion series used at the time. The Kookaburra moved to .9999 in 2017, but the Kangaroo remains at .9999 as well. For purity-conscious buyers, particularly those using the coin for IRA purposes in the US, the four-nines standard provides a clear margin above the .999 minimum.

On the secondary market, the Bird of Paradise now commands higher premiums than Perth Mint's ongoing series, driven by its two-year scarcity. Buyers looking for the lowest premium per ounce of Perth Mint silver will find better value in current-year Kangaroos or Kookaburras. The Bird of Paradise is now primarily a collector-oriented product with bullion characteristics, rather than a straightforward stacking coin.

Against non-Perth competitors at the 1 oz silver coin weight, the Bird of Paradise's discontinued status places it in a different category from actively minted coins. The 1 oz Silver Britannia offers CGT exemption for UK buyers and advanced security features. The Maple Leaf matches the .9999 purity with unlimited mintage and Mintshield anti-tarnish technology. For pure bullion purposes, these actively produced coins offer better liquidity and lower premiums. The Bird of Paradise's value proposition is now built on scarcity and the appeal of a short-lived series from a respected sovereign mint.