Striking Gold

In honor of the 175th anniversary of the first Australian Gold Rush, the Perth Mint has released three commemoratives.   

The three coins—a 1-ounce silver proof gilded $1, a ¹/₄-ounce gold proof $25, and a 1-ounce gold proof $100—share the same obverse and reverse designs. A map of Australia appears in the center of the reverse, with a dot at Ophir (the birthplace of the Australian Gold Rush) and the numeral 175. A lantern is above the map. A crossed shovel and pickaxe are depicted in the background, along with a pitched tent, a wheelbarrow, a hand panning for gold, a bucket, and a cradle box on rugged terrain. The legend AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GOLD RUSH is above the design, and the year appears below. The obverse features Dan Thorne’s effigy of King Charles III. 

The mintages for the 1-ounce silver, ¹/₄-ounce gold, and 1-ounce gold coins are 4,500; 375; and 155, respectively. The silver proof coins are sold out, but the gold examples are currently available on the Perth Mint’s website.