World's First One Metric Ton Gold Coin

The biggest, heaviest, inherently the world's most valuable gold bullion coin -- worth an estimated $60,777,102 at current prices -- has been unveiled by The Perth Mint, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Weighing one metric tons of 99.99 percent pure gold, the monumental coin measures nearly 80cms wide (31.5 inches) and more than 12cms deep (nearly five inches).

The coin is the pinnacle of ingenuity and innovation for which The Perth Mint is renowned.  

"To cast and handcraft a coin of this size and weight was an incredible challenge, one which few other mints would not even consider," said Ed Harbuz, CEO of The Perth Mint.

The one metric ton coin features a bounding red kangaroo surrounded by stylized rays of sunlight and bordered by the inscription "AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO 1 TONNE 9999 GOLD" and the year-date 2012.

Issued as Australian legal tender, the obverse of the coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA" and the monetary denomination of "1 MILLION DOLLARS."

Obverse side of coin being designed

Reverse of coin being designed

Workers prepare the reverse side of the coin mold to be joined with obverse side of mold

Workers prepare the obverse side of coin mold to be joined to reverse side of coin mold

With both sides of the coin mold joined, workers prepare to pour molten gold into the two-part assembly

Workers slowly pour one metric ton of molten gold into the mold

Workers begin the process of separating the two coin molds

The freshly poured coin emerges without some of the shine that will later emerge

Much of the polishing work entailed slow manual labor

The edge of the coin received minute attention by skilled craftsmen

Obverse side receives a special finish

Reverse side receives final treatment

Queen Elizabeth II's image shows clearly on the finished product

The iconic Australian kangaroo, shown in mid-stride, is plainly visible in the finished product