Perth coin set goes for $1.36 million

Reverses of the three Australian Trilogy $5,000 proof coins, each with an embedded fancy colored Argyle diamond. From top: .9999 gold Kookaburra, .9167 fine rose gold Koala, and .9995 platinum Kangaroo. (Images courtesy The Perth Mint)

It took a month, but a special one-of-a-kind gold and diamond set worth A$1.8 million (U.S. $1.36 million) sold July 6.

Several parties expressed interest but in the end it was sold via Glajz-THG Pte Ltd. to an anonymous Asian collector.

The Perth Mint unveiled The Australian Trilogy June 7. The three proof $5,000 coins each contain one kilo of precious metal. Each is set with a natural fancy colored diamond from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine. Each reverse carries Perth’s Kookaburra, Koala or Kangaroo as depicted on this year’s bullion and proof coins.

On the .9999 gold coin two Kookaburras perch on a wooden fence and gaze at an 0.47 carat round brilliant-cut Fancy Deep Purple-Pink diamond.

The .9167 fine rose gold piece has a Koala sitting beneath a eucalyptus tree completely ignoring the 0.58 carat emerald-cut Fancy Intense Pink that features alongside.

On the .9995 platinum proof a Kangaroo bounds over a 0.46 carat emerald-cut Fancy Dark Gray-Violet.

The obverse shows the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II above the denomination.

The Perth Mint and Argyle Pink Diamonds enjoy a commercial relationship that began in 2008. Among the range of luxurious collectibles the partnership has created was the 2016 $5,000 Kimberley Treasure coin valued at $1 million. It sold to an international buyer within 48 hours.

At the launch Perth Mint CEO Richard Hayes announced that The Australian Trilogy would be on view in The Mint’s retail shop for the remainder of June to give people the opportunity of viewing it at their leisure.

For those who failed to do so, its creation can be checked out on YouTube. Just search on “Australian Trilogy” and ignore the music videos.