Perth Mint: 40th Anniversary of the Australian Nugget Gilded 1 oz Silver 2026 Proof

Perth Mint: 40th Anniversary of the Australian Nugget is an exceptional gilded silver collector coin struck from 1 oz of pure 9999 silver, issued in 2026 by The Perth Mint. The release commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Australian Nugget program, which since its debut in 1986 has been recognised as the first legal tender gold coin program produced by the Australian mint since 1931.

The Australian Nugget series has stood out from the very beginning for its artistic approach to the theme of the Australian gold rush. Designs by the legendary goldsmith and numismatic designer Stuart Devlin depicted the most famous gold nuggets discovered on the continent, combining history with the highest minting quality. This anniversary Proof silver issue with gilding pays tribute to that groundbreaking series.

The coin is struck in the Proof standard and enhanced with selective 24-carat gilding, covering the central motif and the outer ring. It has a face value of 1 Australian dollar, a diameter of 40.9 mm and a weight of 31.107 g. The maximum mintage is 5,000 pieces, with the issue limit set at 4,500 examples, further enhancing its collector appeal.

The obverse of the coin features the official effigy of King Charles III by Dan Thorne, together with the face value, presented in the classical style characteristic of contemporary The Perth Mint issues.

The reverse depicts the legendary Welcome Stranger nugget, the largest gold nugget ever discovered. The motif is selectively gilded and surrounded by an outlined map of Australia and stylised sun rays. The design includes the name of the nugget, the P40 mintmark, the inscription THE AUSTRALIAN NUGGET, as well as details of the weight, silver fineness and the year of issue 2026.