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The Coin Chest
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About the 1 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo Silver Round
Australia's Flagship Silver Bullion Design
The 1 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo silver round is the silver counterpart to one of the world's most recognised gold bullion coins. Introduced in 2016, the Silver Kangaroo arrived relatively late compared to competitors (the American Silver Eagle launched in 1986, the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf in 1988), but its debut was a major commercial success with over 11.2 million coins produced in the first year, a record for a contemporary Australian precious metal coin.
Each year's Silver Kangaroo features a new kangaroo reverse design, joining the Chinese Silver Panda as one of only a handful of government bullion series with annually changing artwork. The .9999 fine silver purity (four nines) matches the Perth Mint's gold Kangaroo and exceeds the three-nine standard of many competitors. This is Australian legal tender with a $1 AUD face value, produced by a government-owned, LBMA-accredited mint.
For silver buyers comparing sovereign mint options, the Kangaroo offers annually changing designs at lower premiums than the Panda but typically higher than the American Silver Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf. Its strongest market presence is in the Asia-Pacific region, where the Perth Mint's geographic proximity and brand recognition give it a distribution advantage over North American and European competitors.
Perth Mint Silver Kangaroo Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 troy oz (31.10 g) |
| Purity | .9999 fine silver |
| Diameter | 40.60 mm |
| Thickness | 4.00 mm |
| Face value | $1 AUD |
| Legal tender | Australia |
| Mint | Perth Mint (Gold Corporation, Western Australia) |
| Accreditation | LBMA-accredited |
| Mintmark | P (Perth Mint) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Tube quantity | 25 coins |
Security Features
From its 2016 introduction, the Silver Kangaroo has carried a micro-laser engraved letter on the reverse, detectable only under magnification. This was a Perth Mint first, introduced with the silver bullion debut. The small letter is positioned within the design and varies by year. The Perth Mint's "P" mintmark is also incorporated into the reverse design. Tubes are sealed with tamper-evident security seals. The coin does not carry a digital authentication system comparable to the Royal Canadian Mint's Bullion DNA.
Silver Kangaroo Tax Treatment Across Jurisdictions
The Silver Kangaroo is Australian legal tender with a $1 AUD face value. Despite this legal tender status, it does not receive CGT exemption in most jurisdictions (that benefit is typically reserved for domestic legal tender coins).
- Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver (.9999 purity exceeds the .999 threshold). Subject to CGT on disposal. Individuals holding for more than 12 months qualify for a 50% CGT discount. The Perth Mint operates a depository storage program allowing allocated storage for domestic buyers.
- United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase (silver coins attract full VAT regardless of legal tender status in their origin country). Not CGT-exempt (only UK legal tender coins qualify). For UK silver buyers, the 1 oz Silver Britannia offers CGT exemption.
- United States: IRA-eligible (.9999 silver exceeds the .999 IRA threshold). No federal sales tax; state tax varies. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate.
- Canada: GST/HST exempt at .999+ purity for qualifying bullion coins from recognised mints.
- New Zealand: GST-exempt at .999+ purity for fine bullion. The Perth Mint is the nearest major sovereign mint for NZ buyers.
- Singapore: GST-exempt under the IPM scheme (.999+ silver coins on the MAS-approved list).
- Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.
Perth Silver Kangaroo vs Other Sovereign Mint Silver
The Silver Kangaroo competes directly with other 1 oz sovereign mint silver coins. Its annually changing design and .9999 purity position it distinctly in the market.
Against the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, both share .9999 purity, but the Maple Leaf has a fixed design and substantially more advanced security (Bullion DNA digital authentication plus MintShield anti-tarnish). The Maple Leaf is more liquid in North American and European markets; the Kangaroo has stronger presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Premiums are comparable, with the Maple Leaf typically marginally cheaper due to higher volume.
Against the 1 oz Perth Koala silver round, both are Perth Mint products with annual design changes and .9999 purity (Koala from 2018). The Kangaroo has unlimited mintage while the Koala is capped at 300,000 per year, giving the Koala slightly more collector appeal but potentially less immediate availability. The Kangaroo is Perth's primary silver bullion offering; the Koala is the collector-oriented companion.
Against the Chinese Silver Panda, both change designs annually, but the Kangaroo offers several practical advantages: .9999 purity (vs .999 for the Panda), a full troy ounce of silver (vs 30 grams post-2016 for the Panda), clearer provenance from a single mint, and micro-laser security features. The Panda has stronger counterfeiting risk. The Kangaroo is the more straightforward bullion investment; the Panda offers greater numismatic appreciation potential from its collector market.