1 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo Silver Coin

Perth Mint's Entry into the Silver Kangaroo Market

The 1 oz Perth Mint Kangaroo Silver Coin is Australia's primary silver bullion offering from the Perth Mint, struck in .9999 fine silver with a face value of A$1. Launched in 2016, it arrived decades after the gold version (1986) but quickly became one of the highest-volume silver coins in the world, with over 11 million coins produced in its debut year alone.

The four-nines purity places it alongside the 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf at the top of the purity scale for sovereign silver coins. Most competitors, including the 1 oz Silver Philharmonic and the 1 oz Silver Krugerrand, are struck at .999. For buyers in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, the Perth Mint Kangaroo is the natural domestic choice, backed by the Gold Corporation (a Western Australian government entity) and one of the world's most recognised mint brands.

Unlike the 1 oz Royal Australian Mint Kangaroo, which changes its reverse design each year, the Perth Mint version uses the same kangaroo design annually. This makes it a straightforward stacking coin rather than a collector piece, keeping premiums competitive with other major sovereign silver coins.

Each coin carries a micro-laser engraved letter on the reverse, detectable only under magnification. This was introduced with the 2016 silver debut and remains the Perth Mint's primary anti-counterfeiting measure across its bullion range. Coins are packaged in tubes of 25 with tamper-evident security seals.

Perth Mint Silver Kangaroo Technical Details

The reverse design remains consistent from year to year, unlike the Perth Mint's Kookaburra and Koala series, which feature annual design changes and capped mintages. The Kangaroo's unlimited mintage and fixed design keep it positioned as a pure bullion product rather than a semi-numismatic collectible.

The 40.60 mm diameter is slightly larger than the RAM Kangaroo's 40.0 mm, providing a simple way to distinguish the two coins visually. The obverse has changed several times as the monarch's portrait has been updated: Raphael Maklouf's Queen Elizabeth II portrait was used from 1986-1998, Ian Rank-Broadley's from 1999-2018, Jody Clark's from 2019-2023, and Dan Thorne's King Charles III effigy from 2024 onward.

The Perth Mint's micro-laser engraved letter was introduced with the 2016 silver bullion release, when the letter "A" was placed within the first "A" of "AUSTRALIAN." This was a first for the Perth Mint and remains the primary authentication feature across all its bullion coins. Unlike the Royal Canadian Mint's Bullion DNA system, which provides individual coin-level digital verification, the Perth Mint's micro-engraving is a visual feature that requires magnification to detect.

Silver Kangaroo Tax Treatment by Country

As a silver coin, the Perth Mint Kangaroo attracts purchase tax in most jurisdictions, unlike its gold counterpart which benefits from investment gold exemptions worldwide.

• Australia: Investment-grade silver at .9999 purity qualifies for GST-free treatment when sold for no more than 110% of its precious metal value. The Perth Mint Kangaroo meets all investment-grade requirements. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with individuals holding for more than 12 months qualifying for a 50% CGT discount.
• United Kingdom: Subject to 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt, as only UK legal tender coins (such as the 1 oz Silver Britannia) qualify for CGT exemption. The margin scheme may apply to pre-owned examples.
• United States: The silver Perth Mint Kangaroo meets the .999+ purity threshold for IRA eligibility. Sales tax varies by state, with approximately 35 states exempting bullion purchases. Capital gains are taxed at the 28% collectibles rate for holdings over one year.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt for silver at .999+ purity in coin form. Capital gains taxed at a 50% inclusion rate.
• European Union: Subject to VAT at local rates (typically 17-27%). Gold Kangaroos are VAT-exempt under the investment gold directive, but silver is not covered. Germany and the Netherlands offer margin scheme treatment on pre-owned silver coins.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for fine silver bullion at .999+ purity. No formal capital gains tax, though gains may be assessed as income if the IRD determines the bullion was acquired for resale.
• Singapore: GST-exempt as an Investment Precious Metal (silver at .999+ purity in coin form from the MAS-approved list). No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, and no capital gains tax.

Perth Kangaroo vs Other 1 oz Silver Coins

The Perth Mint Kangaroo competes directly with the major sovereign silver coins at the 1 oz weight. Its .9999 purity is shared only with the 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf, the 1 oz RAM Kangaroo, and the 1 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle. The 1 oz Silver Britannia, 1 oz Silver Philharmonic, and 1 oz Silver Krugerrand are all struck at .999.

Against the Maple Leaf, the Perth Kangaroo lacks the Royal Canadian Mint's security features (Bullion DNA digital authentication and MintShield anti-tarnish coating), but offers comparable pricing and strong Asia-Pacific availability. The Maple Leaf's MintShield technology, introduced in 2018, addresses the milk-spot tarnishing that affects all silver coins, including the Kangaroo.

Against the Silver Britannia, the Kangaroo gives up the CGT exemption that UK buyers receive from UK legal tender coins. For Australian buyers, the situation is reversed: the Perth Kangaroo is the domestic product with direct mint availability, and the Britannia is the import.

The key distinction from the RAM Kangaroo is design consistency. The Perth Mint uses the same reverse design each year, while the RAM changes its kangaroo scene annually. This makes the Perth version predictable for stackers and the RAM version more appealing to collectors who value annual variety. The Perth Mint also has significantly higher production volumes, keeping premiums lower.

In the broader Asia-Pacific market (Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan), the Perth Mint Kangaroo has stronger dealer availability than most European or North American coins. The Perth Mint's geographic proximity to these markets and its established distribution network make the Kangaroo one of the most liquid silver coins in the region.