| The Royal Australia Mint issued a series of | | | | was difficult, so it is necessary to either find coins |
| beautiful, detailed bird coins from 1989 through | | | | that have somehow been shipped to the United |
| 1994. This series contains only six issues. As with | | | | States, or to purchase from an Australian seller. |
| any coins series that is closed, it is easy to | | | | Since there are so few coins in the series, it is |
| determine when it is fully collected. Moreover, the | | | | possible to collect all six. It appears the Jabiru and |
| coins come with colorful, informative certificates | | | | the Sulfur Crested Cockatoo are easiest to find |
| of authenticity, making them ideal for bird | | | | through online auctions, while the Penguin and the |
| enthusiasts and for coin collectors worldwide. | | | | Kookaburra are so popular subjects that few |
| The Birds of Australia series began in 1989 with | | | | people release them once they are purchased. |
| the Kookaburra, the bird emblematic of Australia. | | | | However, with a little work and persistence the |
| In fact, starting in 1990, the Perth Mint has | | | | entire set can be obtained. In fact, one popular |
| produced kookaburra coins that change in design | | | | auction site was running a complete set the night |
| every year. The 1989 coin differs in design and | | | | this article was written. |
| size from the kookaburra coins that follow it. | | | | These coins have limited mintage, which should |
| The Royal Australia Mint followed with the Sulfur | | | | interest numismatists, and they are sterling silver, |
| Crested Cockatoo in 1990, a splendid coin showing | | | | giving some support to their values. Do watch |
| a beautiful crest atop a wing spread cockatoo, | | | | that the coin has not been separated from the |
| the Jabiru in 1991, showing its stark features is | | | | certificate of authenticity and the case. The value |
| commonly called the black necked stork, the | | | | drops, as does the appeal, if these are not |
| Penguin in 1992, the Palm Cockatoo in 1993, and | | | | included. |
| the series ending Wedge Tail Eagle in 1994. | | | | For both the bird watchers and numismatists, it |
| While these coins are in sterling silver, and not | | | | should be pointed out that other bird issues not |
| colorized, the images on the accompanying | | | | part of this series might be interesting as well. |
| certificates of authenticity show the birds in | | | | If the normal auction sites do not produce results |
| spectacular color. Each coin is protected in a | | | | immediately, consider an Australian auction site. |
| rather large folder, much larger than a coin would | | | | While membership in any association is no |
| need. The folders are light blue in color, and offer | | | | guarantee of a seller's veracity, membership in |
| excellent protection for both the coin and the | | | | the Australian Numismatic Dealers Association has |
| certificate of authenticity that are contained within. | | | | rather strict rules of conduct that members are |
| In 1989, collecting coins from foreign countries | | | | happy to point out. |