World’s biggest gold coin on display in Perth
THE BIGGEST, HEAVIEST and most valuable gold bullion coin in the world is the centrepiece of a new permanent exhibition at the refurbished Perth Mint.
The piece is one tonne of 99.99 per cent pure gold – making it worth more than $50 million.
The coin, which is 80cm in diameter and more than 12cm deep, depicts a red kangaroo surrounded by rays of sunlight.
World’s biggest gold coin on permanent display
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said the $5.5 million redevelopment of Perth Mint, which was completed in two stages, was the biggest since it was founded 115 years ago.
Other items on display in the exhibition include more than $25 million worth of natural and refined gold, a rare opportunity to handle a solid gold bar worth more than $500,000, gold pours, the minting of Australian precious metal coins, and a multimedia heritage tour.
Perth Mint was established as a branch of Britain’s Royal Mint in 1899.
Its primary functions of refining gold from the eastern goldfields and striking gold coinage continues today but at its refinery near Perth Airport, with precious metal coins struck onsite at the mint.
The Mint, which attracts almost 80,000 visitors a year, also issues the nation’s official bullion and commemorative coins.
In 2012-13, Perth Mint refined more than 300 tonnes of precious metals, reported close to $3 billion worth of holdings in its depository, and sold 4.3 million gold, silver and platinum coins.
