The present invention provides a surface-coated article possessing a high hardness coating that has a Vickers hardness that is equal to or greater than that of conventional high hardness coatings, and which has an oxidation initiation temperature, which is an expression of resistance to oxidation, that is higher than that of conventional high hardness coatings. A coating layer containing a compound nitride that employs as main components Al and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Pd, Ir and the rare earth elements is formed on or over a base material.