Last week the Australian Perth Mint unveiled the world’s largest gold coin ever created.  The coin is over one ton (2,231 pounds) and measures 31 inches wide by 4.7 inches thick.  It is 99.99% pure gold and took the mint 18 months to produce and is valued at close to $55 million.

What is amazing is that this coin was handcrafted!  The obverse has the image of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.  The reverse designed by Dr Stuart Devlin, has the image of a red kangaroo surrounded by stylized sunrays which is boarded by the inscription AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO 1 TONNE 9999 GOLD and the date 2012.

Perth Mint chief executive Ed Harbuz said, “To cast and handcraft a coin of this size and weight was an incredible challenge – one which few other mints would even consider.”  He further stated that the coin was “the pinnacle of ingenuity and innovation.”

It is speculated that this was a revenge coin.  The Perth Mint held the record for the world’s largest gold coin until the Canadian Mint unveiled the 220.5 pound Canadian Maple Leaf in 2007.  The Perth Mint’s newest coin is over 100 times larger than its previous record holder which weighed 22 pounds or 10 kilograms.

The coin was finished in time for the Queen Elizabeth’s arrival in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Watch the video below showing how it was made, pretty neat:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1KoF8Ik24Y&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]