Perth Mint Rolls Out Opal, Nugget, Lunar & Bridgerton Coins

Nearly a dozen new gold and silver coin releases from Australia’s Perth Mint have already arrived for February. Spanning a broad range of themes, finishes, and enhanced design elements, the debuting issues showcase the Mint’s diverse offerings. Mintages vary widely by release, ranging from as few as 200 coins to as many as 10,000.

February’s premieres include Lunar Year of the Horse coins, pieces marking the 40th anniversary of the Australian Nugget series, gold and silver Wonders of Australia Opal coins, and commemorative issues celebrating the Netflix series Bridgerton. Further details on each of The Perth Mint’s February releases are outlined below.

For ordering information on each release, visit The Perth Mint. Additional product details are provided below.

Wonders of Australia — Outback 1 oz Gold Proof Opal Coin

Perth Mint artist Jennifer McKenna designed the reverse (tails side) of this coin, which contains Australia’s national gemstone — an opal — at its center. Surrounding the opal insert are images of Australia such as a sun, a dingo, a python, a wolf spider, a bilby, two spinifex pigeons, a perentie, two echidnas, a blue-tongued skink, two desert tree frogs, a rock wallaby, and two emus.

The obverse (heads side) has Dan Thorne’s effigy of King Charles III. Additional obverse inscriptions read AUSTRALIA and the face value of 100 DOLLARS.

Face Value: $100 Diameter: 32.60 mm Thickness: 2.95 mm Maximum Mintage: 200

Wonders of Australia — Outback 1 oz Silver Proof Opal Coin

This is the silver version of the aforementioned gold coin. It contains the same basic design elements on the reverse, including the opal insert.

Each proof silver coin has a face value of 1 DOLLAR as indicated by the obverse inscription, which is joined by CHARLES III and AUSTRALIA, all surrounding the King Charles III portrait.

Face Value: $1 Diameter: 36.60 mm Thickness: 3.95 mm Maximum Mintage: 5,000

40th Anniversary of the Australian Nugget 1 oz Gold Proof Coin

The Australian Nugget was the first legal tender gold coin program issued by The Perth Mint, dating back to 1986. That fact is celebrated by the 40th Anniversary release, which showcases a likeness of the “Welcome Stranger” on its reverse as completed by Stuart Devlin. The Welcome Stranger is the largest gold nugget ever recorded and was unearthed back in 1869.

Reverse inscriptions read ONE OUNCE 99.99 PURE GOLD, 2026 and THE AUSTRALIAN NUGGET. The obverse contains a Dan Thorne portrait of King CHARLES III along with the inscriptions 100 DOLLARS, CHARLES III, and AUSTRALIA.

Face Value: $100 Diameter: 32.60 mm Thickness: 2.95 mm Maximum Mintage: 200

40th Anniversary of the Australian Nugget 1/4 oz Gold Proof Coin

This coin is the 1/4 ounce version of the previous Australian Nugget coin. As such, design elements are basically unchanged with the exception of the face value inscription of 25 DOLLARS.

Face Value: $25 Diameter: 20.60 mm Thickness: 2.30 mm Maximum Mintage: 605

40th Anniversary of the Australian Nugget 1 oz Silver Proof Gilded Coin

Once again, the historical Australian Nugget is celebrated, but this time with a one ounce silver proof gilded coin. The nugget design and outer rim of the coin is gilded in 24 karat gold.

Reverse inscriptions read ONE OUNCE 99.99 PURE SILVER, 2026 and the AUSTRALIAN NUGGET. The obverse contains Thorne’s effigy of King Charles III and the inscriptions of CHARLES III, AUSTRALIA and 1 DOLLAR.

Face Value: $1 Diameter: 40.90 mm Thickness: 3.50 mm Maximum Mintage: 5,000

Australian Lunar Year of the Horse 2 oz Silver Antiqued Coin

A unique antiqued finish is shown on the Lunar Year of the Horse 2 oz Silver Coin. The antiquing is completed by hand, so minor variances may occur.

Appearing on the reverse are horses galloping through water as designed by artist Ing Ing Jong. The obverse contains the inscriptions of CHARLES III, AUSTRALIA, 2 oz 9999 Ag and 2 DOLLARS.

Face Value: $2 Diameter: 40.69 mm Thickness: 5.86 mm Maximum Mintage: 1,888

Australian Lunar Year of the Horse Mini Horse 0.5g Gold Proof Coin

This release offers a smaller and more affordable Year of the Horse gold coin struck from 99.99% gold. The reverse has an Ing Ing Jong design of a single horse with elevated hooves set against a mountainous backdrop. King Charles III appears on the obverse.

Each of these coins is housed in an acrylic capsule which is attached to a wallet-sized card.

Face Value: $2 Diameter: 11.60 mm Thickness: 1.00 mm Maximum Mintage: 10,000

Australian Emu 1 oz Silver Colored Coin

Emus are a celebrated part of Australian wildlife. That is recognized on this 1 oz silver colored coin whose reverse portrays a colored adult emu along with five chicks.

The birds appear in front of a desert landscape with a blue sky and orange sun in the design by Neil Hollis.

Face Value: $1 Diameter: 40.90 mm Thickness: 3.50 mm Maximum Mintage: 2,500

Bridgerton — Lady Whistledown 1 oz Silver Colored Coin

The popular Netflix series Bridgerton is celebrated with this silver colored coin — specifically the character of Lady Whistledown. A portrait of the character appears on the reverse.

These coins are struck as legal tender of Tuvalu which is indicated on the obverse along with the inscriptions of KING CHARLES III, 1 OZ 9999 AG, 2026 and 1 DOLLAR. The portrait of the king was completed by Jody Clark.

Face Value: $1 Diameter: 40.90 mm Thickness: 3.50 mm Maximum Mintage: 2,000

Bridgerton — Queen Charlotte 1/2 oz Silver Proof Coin

For this Bridgerton coin, The Perth Mint showcases a reverse design portrait of the character Queen Charlotte. Inscriptions around the portrait read HRH QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

These coins are also struck for Tuvalu with a face value of 50 cents.

Face Value: $.50 Diameter: 32.60 mm Thickness: 2.90 mm Maximum Mintage: 3,000

House of Bridgerton 2 oz Silver Proof Gilded Coin

The final Bridgerton coin for the month from The Perth Mint offers the Bridgerton family crest on the reverse. The crest features 24 karat gilding as does the coin’s rims and serrated edge. BRIDGERTON is inscribed above the crest and FAMILY BEFORE ALL below.

Struck for Tuvalu, these coins have a face value of $2.

Face Value: $2 Diameter: 50.80 mm Thickness: 4.80 mm Maximum Mintage: 1,500

Ordering details and additional information are available directly from The Perth Mint of Australia through its collector coin page.