Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty is a globally recognised character created by the Japanese company Sanrio in 1974 designed by illustrator Yuko Shimizu and first appearing on a small vinyl coin purse. Despite often being mistaken for a cat, Sanrio explained that Hello Kitty is actually a young girl named Kitty White who lives in London with her family – a choice made to reflect the international appeal of British culture, which was popular in Japan at the time. Over the decades, Hello Kitty has become a powerful symbol of kawaii (cute) culture and one of the most successful fictional characters in the world.

Adorable design

The coloured reverse of the bar portrays Hello Kitty wearing blue overalls, a yellow T-shirt and a red bow on her head. The design is set against a background of dots and includes the inscriptions ‘HELLO KITTY’ and '©2026 SANRIO'. The obverse is stamped with The Perth Mint’s London Bullion Market Association registered mark, as well as the weight and fineness of the bar.