Australia issues several silver dollars that are of interest to both collectors and investors. The popular Australian Koala and Kookaburra silver bullion coins are issued by the Perth Mint in Western Australia. But the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in Sydney also issues beautiful, investment-quality coins.

When the RAM first opened in Sydney on February 22, 1965, it was the first mint in Australia that was not a branch of the London Royal Mint. The Duke of Edinburgh officiated at the ceremony and the RAM began the process of creating Australia’s decimal coinage.

Forty five years later, the RAM has produced more than 11 billion coins. In addition to issuing Australian coins and silver dollars, the RAM also mints coins for other South Pacific nations, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Malaysia.

Courtesy of Royal Australian Mint

In 1993, the RAM introduced the first Australian Silver Kangaroo. This silver dollar has been produced every year since then. It has a purity of .999 and weighs one ounce. An image of Queen Elizabeth II appears each year on the obverse. And a different image of a kangaroo – the national symbol of Australia – appears on the reverse.

Together with American Silver Eagle coins, Canadian Maple Leafs, and the St. George Sovereign from the London Mint, the Australian Kangaroo has become one of the most collectible silver bullion coins in the world, valued as much for its artistry as its investment potential.

Because the mintages were limited in quantity, some of the older issues have shown strong appreciation in value. The 1998 and 2007 silver bullion coins are especially collectible. In 1998, 7,645 proof coins — the first in the series — were produced, and the portrait of Queen Elizabeth was changed to the Ian Rank-Broadley design. Proof coins have been available since then and coins with some gold plating were introduced in 2002.

For 2010, the design features a Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby designed by W Pietranik. It is shown on a rocky ridge, typical of its New South Wales habitat. Listed as Vulnerable in the 1999 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby is something of a success story in Australia, having bounced back in number.

There will be just 20,000 proof coins produced. The mintage on the frosted, uncalculated coin is unlimited.

Collectors and investors should strongly consider adding Australian Kangaroos to their holdings. Because the quantities are so limited, they are more likely to appreciate than coins with mintages in the millions. And because their silver content is slightly greater than that of American Silver Eagles, they are often the first choice of collectors.

Learn more about Australia’s other silver bullion coins, the Australian Koala and Kooaburra here.

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The United States quit producing silver dollars back in 1935. But in 1986, the U.S. Mint introduced American Silver Eagle coins, which are the only official silver bullion coins produced by the United States. They are minted in West Point, New York, and bear the “W” mint mark.

You’ve probably heard of silver bullion but may not be exactly sure what it means. In a nutshell, bullion is valued for its mass and purity rather than for its face value as a coin. Silver bullion coins are never intended to be used as currency. And their face value is significantly less than the value of the silver they contain.

American Silver Eagle Reverse side

Both bullion and proof finishes of American Silver Eagles are produced. But since 2009, demand for the American Eagle silver bullion coins has been so great that all the available silver blanks have been used to produce silver bullion coins.

Because the cost of bullion coins is keyed to the market silver price — also called the spot silver price, they are available from authorized bullion and coin dealers. When they are available, proof versions of the coin are sold by the U.S. Mint. until the next year’s Silver Eagles are issued or until they are sold out.

Each bullion Silver Eagle is 99.9% silver and weighs 31.103 grams. The U.S. government guarantees their weight, composition, and purity. Interestingly, they are the only silver coins that can be used to fund an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

The obverse features Adolphe A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty, which was first used on the 1916 half dollar. She strides confidently wrapped in Old Glory with branches of laurel and olive in her left hand.

The reverse, which was designed by John Mercanti, show an eagle with arrows in his left talons, and an olive branch is his right.

In 2006, the U.S. Mint introduced a platinum American Eagle.

American Silver Eagle Reverse side

To make the proof coins, specially burnished silver coin blanks are manually fed into a coin press that’s fitted with special dies. The coins are struck several times, resulting in a frosted image that seems to float above the highly polished background.

Inspectors wearing white gloves check the coins and then place them in a protective plastic case. The coins are sold with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Like all silver bullion coins, American Eagles are popular with investors because they are an affordable way to add precious metals to your portfolio. They are the only investment-grade U.S. silver coins. And today, they are also the world’s most best-selling silver coins, with more than 130 million sold.

Investors are attracted to precious metals because as a rule, they move independently of stocks and bonds. They are portable, extremely liquid — most coin dealer will be cash for them — and easy to store and care for.

Although the coins are mostly of value due to the silver they contain, three Silver American Eagles are more valuable because fewer were produced. The 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle was part of the Gold Eagle Proof Set with a mintage of just 30,125. The 2006-W Reverse Proof was part of a mintage of 250,000 sets. And the 2008-W Silver Eagle was struck with the 2007 reverse die.

If you’re interested in collecting silver dollars, consider investing in some silver bullion American Eagle coins. You can get started for a modest price, and the coins are beautiful.

Read more about collecting coins here.

Images: U.S. Mint

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