Coin Videos

This is an extremely interesting video about the Perth Mint of Australia. The 8 1/2 minute presentation is definitely meant to promote the institution but it does so in an interesting and informative way.

The Perth Mint itself was opened in 1899 as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint. It joined the Sydney and Melbourne Mint in producing gold sovereigns for the British Empire. By utilizing these branch mints, gold would not have to be shipped to Britain, just to be refined, coined and sent back to Australia as currency.

Rich gold deposits were found in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie making the Perth location ideal for minting purposes. All said and done, the Perth created more than 106 million gold sovereigns and almost 735,000 half-sovereigns.

By the mid-1900's, the Perth was already firmly entrenched as one of the most innovative facilities in the world when it produced a proof plate of gold that was hailed as the purest of all gold. It was 999.999 parts of gold per thousand.

Great Britain relinquished control of the Perth in 1970 and it came under the ownership of the State Government of Western Australia. It is one of the oldest continually operating facilities in the world.

The video highlights the production of coins, medals, and blanks, the latter of which are purchased by other mints throughout the world to use for their own coins. Gold refinery operations are shown too along with the tourist trade the Mint has built-up through the years.

One unique fact presented is that the Perth was the first mint to strike colored coins, a process that many have copied in recent years.

Take a few minutes and enjoy this presentation about one of the most unique facilities in the world.

Resources

• The Perth Mint