The Australian Platinum Platypus has a distinct place in Perth Mint’s platinum lineup. The Platinum Koala launched in 1988 and ran through 2000. When the mint brought back platinum bullion in 2011, the Platinum Platypus took the stage. Production for the Platypus continued through 2018 before giving way to the Platinum Kangaroo in 2019. Right now, 2012 1 oz Australian Platinum Platypus Coins are available from BullionMax.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives in an acrylic capsule!
• Second year of issue in the Platinum Platypus Series!
• Final mintage set at 26,580 coins!
• Contains 1 troy oz of .9995 pure platinum.
• Legal tender with a face value of $100 (AUD), backed by Australia’s federal government.
• The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II.
• The reverse shows a platypus swimming underwater.

Each 2012 1 oz Australian Platinum Platypus Coin ships in an acrylic capsule. The 2012 release recorded the second-highest mintage at 26,580 coins. Only the 2011 debut exceeded it, reaching its full limit of 30,000 coins. Later dates from 2013 to 2018 saw smaller totals, with the closest year, 2015, coming in at roughly half of the 2012 figure.

The platypus is a rare monotreme and a reminder of early mammalian branches from more than 100 million years ago. These animals live in freshwater habitats along Australia’s east coast and in Tasmania, from warm rainforest streams in Queensland to cooler rivers farther south.

The obverse of the 2012 Australian Platinum Platypus displays Queen Elizabeth II in the well-known 1998 portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. In this effigy, Her Majesty wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara.

On the reverse of the 2012 1 oz Platinum Platypus Coin, a platypus appears gliding beneath the water’s surface. Platypuses rely on stable river systems with places to burrow, steady food sources like aquatic invertebrates, and limited disturbance along the banks.

If you have any questions about platinum coins, please reach out. BullionMax customer service is available at 800-729-3202, online using our web chat, and via our email address.