Gold Production Falls, But Miners Still Profitable

Australian gold production has fallen by 4 per cent over the last year.

A higher gold price has meant miners are now targeting lower grade ore and just 261 tonnes of the shiny metal was pulled from Aussie soil last financial year.

Dr Sandra Close, from mining consultancy firm Surbiton, says despite the drop, producers are still keeping their heads well above water.

"That's what's happened, they've been taking advantage of the high gold price and making the most of their deposits and treating slightly lower grade ore, so of course we have a little less gold," she said.

"But what's the most important thing there really is the margin between the sales price and the cost."

The Super Pit at Kalgoorlie, WA, is currently 3.7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 450 metres deep and one of the largest gold producers in the world. (Emma Wynne)

Australian Lunar Series II 2013 Year of the Snake Gold Proof Coin - Perth Mint Gold

Proof Quality 99.99% Pure Gold

Stunning Snake Reverse Designs

Australian Legal Tender

Extremely Limited Mintages

Numbered Certificates of Authenticity

Elegant Presentation

Great Gift Ideas

In 2013, the spectacular and popular Australian Lunar II Gold Proof Coin Series celebrates the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the twelve year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

These superb proof quality releases are perfect for people born in ‘snake’ years.

The birth dates for people ruled by the Chinese Lunar snake include 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013. Those born under the influence of this sign are said to be intelligent, graceful, independent, analytical and charming.

The 2013 gold releases are available as individual 1oz, 1/4oz and 1/10oz coins, or in a stunning three-coin set comprising all three issues.

Proof Quality 99.99% Pure Gold

Each coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 99.99% pure gold in proof quality.

Stunning Snake Reverse Designs

The reverse of each coin depicts a representation of a snake with bamboo, signifying good health, wisdom and prosperity. The Chinese character for ‘snake’ and the inscription "Year of the Snake" also appear in the design with The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, each coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

Extremely Limited Mintages

No more than 3,000 1oz coins, 5,000 1/4oz coins, 5,000 1/10oz coins and 3,000 three-coin sets will be released.

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Each coin and set is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Elegant Presentation

Australian Lunar gold proof coins are housed in elegant oval-shaped display cases featuring a granite-effect base and a glossy timber-effect lid. Each case comes in an illustrated shipper.

Great Gift Ideas

As well as appealing to gold proof coin collectors, these outstanding releases also make great gifts for people born in any year ruled by the Chinese lunar snake.

2013 Kangaroo $100 20th Anniversary 1oz Gold Proof - RAM Gold

Issued to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the long-running, ever-popular Silver Kangaroo Program, this magnificent collector coin is distinguished by a Bounding Kangaroo design – the very same deign featured on the very first coin of the 1993-2013 Kangaroo Series! Beautifully accommodated by the broad, crown-sized 40mm diameter flan, this iconic Australian motif looks simply sensational struck to the highest Proof quality from the world’s favourite precious metal.

One of very few 1oz Gold Proofs issued by the RAM in recent years, and the first time that the RAM has struck a 1oz Gold Proof Kangaroo coin, this one-off 1oz gold Australian legal tender issue is guaranteed to create frenzied demand. In light of the anticipated demand, it is a significant shock that the Royal Australian Mint has set the mintage so low. Ensuring a mad scramble amongst collectors, the tiny 500-coin mintage will be totally inadequate to sate the hunger of a market ravenous for large gold Proof issues.

Able to secure only a tiny allocation of coins from this astonishingly low worldwide mintage – each beautifully presented within the plush confines of a lavish, official Royal Australian Mint case, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Comprising a full troy ounce of pure, prestigious .9999 gold, and measuring an imposing 40mm in diameter, this exquisite Australian legal tender kangaroo coin from the Royal Australian Mint is perhaps most notable for the tiny mintage. Just 500 coins have been struck for the entire global market! 

Issued to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the long-running, ever-popular Silver Kangaroo Program, this magnificent collector coin is distinguished by a Bounding Kangaroo design – the very same deign featured on the very first coin of the 1993-2013 Kangaroo Series! Beautifully accommodated by the broad, crown-sized 40mm diameter flan, this iconic Australian motif looks simply sensational struck to the highest Proof quality from the world’s favourite precious metal.

One of very few 1oz Gold Proofs issued by the RAM in recent years, and the first time that the RAM has struck a 1oz Gold Proof Kangaroo coin, this one-off 1oz gold Australian legal tender issue is guaranteed to create frenzied demand. In light of the anticipated demand, it is a significant shock that the Royal Australian Mint has set the mintage so low. Ensuring a mad scramble amongst collectors, the tiny 500-coin mintage will be totally inadequate to sate the hunger of a market ravenous for large gold Proof issues.

Able to secure only a tiny allocation of coins from this astonishingly low worldwide mintage – each beautifully presented within the plush confines of a lavish, official Royal Australian Mint case, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity