2500 Dollars - Charles III 1st Portrait - Jewelled Turtle - Gold Proof

The Jewelled Turtle series has been a consistent vehicle for the Perth Mint's high-relief, gem-set bullion work, but the transition to Charles III's effigy — here in its first portrait iteration by sculptor Jody Clark — marks the first major royal changeover the series has seen since its inception. Clark's portrait was adopted across Commonwealth mints following the Queen's death in September 2022, though individual issuing authorities varied considerably in how quickly they retooled their proof programs around it.

The composite construction — a .9999 fine gold coin with gold plating — is specific to the gem-set tier of this series, where the setting work for the inlaid stones requires a substrate with slightly different surface properties than a standard proof blank.