Britannia vs. Australian Kangaroo
The British Britannia and the Australian Australian Kangaroo are among the most popular investment gold coins in the world. Both have a fineness of 999.9/1000 Au – so how do they differ?
The comparison at a glance
| Parameter | Britannia | Australian Kangaroo |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | The Royal Mint (United Kingdom) | The Perth Mint (Australia) |
| Fineness | 999.9/1000 Au | 999.9/1000 Au |
| Face value currency | GBP | AUD |
| Design | personification of Britannia | kangaroo (changes every year) |
| Security features | latent image, microtext, surface animation | detailed minting, changing design |
| Sizes available (GOLDU) | 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 oz | 1/10, 1/2, 1 oz |
| VAT | exempt in the EU (investment gold) | exempt in the EU (investment gold) |
Mints and character
The Britannia from The Royal Mint is technologically advanced, with sophisticated protection against counterfeiting. The Kangaroo from The Perth Mint (owned by the Government of Western Australia) appeals with its collectable kangaroo design, which is refreshed every year. Why the kangaroo design changes and how the coin came about is described in Australian Kangaroo: The Story of a Coin That Changes Every Year.
Collectability or consistency
The changing Kangaroo design can add a little collector value across years. The Britannia, by contrast, offers a consistent, iconic design and first-class security features – how they work is explained in the article Britannia coin security features.
Liquidity
Both coins are easy to trade internationally. When it comes to selling later or having them bought back, both are a safe choice.
Which one to choose?
As investments they are comparable – the same fineness and VAT exemption. The Britannia scores on security features, the Kangaroo on its changing design. Take a look at the Britannia 1/2 oz and the Australian Kangaroo 1 oz; all sizes are under gold coins. If you are also weighing the Kangaroo against the Austrian coin, read Wiener Philharmoniker vs. Australian Kangaroo.
About the author
Adolf Baumann, analyst at Baumann Group a.s. (GOLDU), has been working with precious metals for over 30 years. He has seen euphoria, crashes and panic on the markets – and he still enjoys it. He explains in plain language what moves the price of gold and silver and how to handle them without unnecessary mistakes. His weakness? He refuses to wear a suit.
