Rare $1 opal coin with range of Australian wildlife is released – and could be worth a fortune if you hold onto them
- Rare coin featuring designs of native animals and authentic opal has gone viral
- The Perth Mint released 5000 coins, with the series selling out in record time
- 70% of Australian coins are exported to Germany and the United States yearly
- Perth Mint announces new ‘ocean’ inspired series to be released later in the year
A rare coin that features detailed illustrations of iconic Australian animals has been released by Mint.
The exclusive Perth design is made from 99.99% silver and Australian opal, with the $1 coin retailing for $130 on the Perth Mint website.
The opal coin was released last year but isn’t available online, with the Perth Mint announcing the new ocean inspired series to be released in 2021.
A rare coin that features detailed illustrations of iconic Australian animals and authentic opal has captured the hearts of collectors across the country
‘This stunning silver coin features a central opal insert displaying it’s beautiful array of colour in the shape of the Australian continent’, the coins description reads.
Pictured: Coin designer Aleysha Howarth
‘Mined in three Australian states, opal is a colourful gemstone which in its most precious form is renowned for a spectacular ‘play of colours.’
The gemstone is surrounded by native Australian animals including the kangaroo, emu, koala, echidna, wombat and bilby.
The designer of the coin, Aleysha Howarth has working with the Perth Mint since 2008 and created the intricate design.
Neil Vance, the general manager of minted products at the Perth Mint, told the Daily Mail Australia they had been releasing opal series since 2012.
Mr Vance said the 5000 opal coins released sold out in record time.
He puts the popularity of the coin series down to the illustrations of iconic Australian animals that resonate with collectors in Australia and overseas.
Mr Vance said the Perth Mint exports 70% of their coins overseas, with Germany and the United States the biggest international collectors of Australian coins.
The Perth Mint (pictured) released 5000 of the coin online which sold out in record time
He announced a follow up series to the coin would be released in 2021, and would be ‘based on the ocean rather than the land’, with the same designer Aleysha Howarth to create the coin.
David Jobson, an expert valuer from Town Hall Coins and Collectables in Sydney’s CBD, said the coin has increased in value since its release in 2020.
‘This coin sold for $130 and would now sell for $250 give or take, based on market price’, he said.