World’s largest coin While most people think about pocket change when it comes to coins, collectors have some coins that are so large and so valuable they almost seem unbelievable.
I’ll use one example; a coin that was released by Perth Mint in 2012, this is the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo and is 1,012 kilograms and contains 99.99% pure gold.
As you would expect, this coin is priced at a face value of AUD $1 million but is much more valuable because of the amount of gold in it.
The Largest Coin in the World
It dwarfs every other coin in existence, the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin measures 80 centimeters in diameter by 13 centimeters thick. It was designed as part of Perth Mint’s popular Kangaroo Gold Bullion series, in order to show off the mint’s prowess.
It’s a massive coin of more showmanship than practical usefulness, and has become an icon of the numismatic world.
The coin was meant to market the mint’s capability and support the nation’s gold industry. As well as being a culturally significant piece, its iconic design has a magnificent kangaroo, a symbol of Australia itself.
A Canadian Giant – Big Maple Leaf
The largest coin is the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo but other big notes include the massively large Canadian Big Maple Leaf, struck in 2007 by the Royal Canadian Mint. This coin is made from 99.999 per cent pure gold, weighs 100 kilograms and face value of CAD $1 million. The Big Maple Leaf has its face value but it gives away much more than that because of the gold in it.
One thing to note is that one of these Big Maple Leaf coins went missing from a Berlin museum in 2017, generating front page news around the world. Immediately, the coin was probably melted for its gold, a huge loss in both cultural, and monetary.
Other Noteworthy Giant Coins
Other giant giant coins from around the world include the 15 kilograms Platinum Jubilee Coin by the Royal Mint to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th anniversary. And the Chinese Giant Panda Gold Coin which was minted in 1991 weighs 10 kilograms. Although not as big as the Australian and Canadian giants, these coins are highly valuable and highly sought after by collectors.
| Coin Name | Country | Weight | Diameter | Face Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo | Australia | 1,012 kg | 80 cm | AUD $1 million |
| Big Maple Leaf | Canada | 100 kg | 50 cm | CAD $1 million |
| Giant Panda Gold Coin | China | 10 kg | – | 500 Yuan |
| Platinum Jubilee Coin | United Kingdom | 15 kg | – | £15,000 |
The 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo and Big Maple Leaf coins, in particular, are the very epitome of numismatic artifice. Their value is not only due to the gold content and rarity but they are not coins anymore.
There’s a lot to be awe-inspired about in the world of numismatics, but few things are as incredible as these massive gold coins. Not for sheer size but for their excellence of construction, and most of all for their historical significance, stand the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo and the Big Maple Leaf. To this end, millions of these coins exist, whatever their ability to promote states’ minting capacities or their celebration of cultural milestones.
FAQs
Q. Is the Australian Kangaroo coin a 1 Tonne coin?
A. While the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo is the most massive gold coin in the world (weighing 1,012 kg) it is not the biggest, another coin produced by the Perth Mint in 2012 is.
Q. Where did this Big Maple Leaf coin end up?
A. In 2017, one of the Big Maple Leaf coins was stolen from a Berlin museum. It’s thought to have been melted down for the gold in it.
Q. Are these big coins legal money?
A. Both the 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo and the Big Maple Leaf are legal tender at their face values of AUD $1 million and CAD $1 million respectively, yes, even though they are so large and valuable.
Q. Do they sell these large coins?
A. While you can buy these coins, their lofty value makes them more collector’s item or investment piece than a coin to be spent. Museums and special exhibitions display them.
Q. So why is it that these coins are so valuable?
A. Rarity, gold content, and the craftsmanship of production make them the main value. The 1 Tonne Australian Kangaroo is valued in pure uncirculated gold bullion bullion at far more than faced value.