A koala in gold: The Perth Mint's 2026 proof coin

The koala has featured on Australian gold and silver coins since 1986, and it remains one of the country's most recognisable animals, known for its calm nature, rounded ears and expressive eyes. The Perth Mint's 2026 release (Australian Koala 2026 1oz Gold Proof Coloured Coin) continues that four-decade run with a one ounce gold proof coin, struck rather than simply minted, which is what gives proof coins their sharper detail and mirrored finish.

The reverse is coloured, showing a koala perched in a eucalyptus tree with a leafy branch in its mouth, surrounded by native foliage. The word "KOALA," the coin's weight and purity, and the 2026 year-date sit alongside The Perth Mint's "P" mintmark. The obverse carries the Dan Thorne effigy of King Charles III and the coin's monetary denomination of $100.

It's struck in 99.99% pure gold, weighing just over 31 grams, a full troy ounce. Only 200 will ever be made. That's a genuinely small number for a gold coin from a major mint, and it puts this release well into serious collector territory rather than the more accessible end of the market.

At $9,000, against an RRP of $9,495, this isn't an impulse buy, and it isn't meant to be. It's the kind of piece bought with a specific collection in mind, whether that's a run of Perth Mint koalas, an interest in coloured proof coins, or simply an eye for something struck in this quantity and this quality.

Mint Coin Shop is an official Perth Mint stockist, and this coin is available now through the site.

See the Australian Koala 2026 1oz Gold Proof Coloured Coin at Mint Coin Shop.