The Australian Kangaroo Gold Bullion Coin was first introduced in 1987 with a design of the largest gold nugget ever found, the 2,284-oz Welcome Stranger nugget. These bullion coins became known as the Australian Gold Nugget. However, in 1990, the reverse design changed to that of a kangaroo, Australia's famous marsupial, giving way to the name Kangaroo Nugget. These designs change yearly, but always feature the kangaroo. To protect the finish, the coins come individually encapsulated in protective plastic covers. Made from .9999 fine (24 karat) gold, the 2009 versions were originally slated to come in 8 different sizes. However, due to production demands, all sizes may not be produced for a given year. Some key points advertised for the coins include their government assurance of weight and purity, their Australian legal tender status, limited mintages, versatile sizes and new reverse designs. -