Perth Mint Lunar Series
Gold & Silver Collector Coins
The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins were produced by Australia's Perth Mint 1996 through 2007 to coincide with the Chinese Lunar calendar for those years. The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins were unique in that they offered gold investors the opportunity to buy genuine collector coins at bullion coin prices.
The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins remain unique in that production of the coins ended in the fall of 2007, and they now are collector coins. Here is a link to mintages of the Lunar Series Coins, both the gold coins and the silver coins.
All twelve of the 1-oz gold coins carry premiums over the most popular 1-oz bullion coins, the Krugerrands and the Gold Eagles. The premiums on the individual coins vary according to demand and availability. The year 2000 1-oz Gold Dragon is the key coin in the Series.
Although this website is dedicated to precious metals bullion items, which we assert are the best investments for gold bullion investors, The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins are discussed because when the coins were available at bullion coin prices CMIGS recommend them to clients. As a result, CMIGS is closely identified with The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins.
Collectors interested in buying The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins should check with CMIGS before buying because we often have Lunar Series Coins for sale at the lowest prices on the Internet. Investors wanting to know prices on the Lunar Series Coins that CMIGS has for sale are invited to call our toll free number: 1-800-528-1380. Tell the operator you want to talk with the Lunar Series coin specialist.
Chinese Lunar Calendar
The Perth Mint's Lunar Series is based on the 12-year Chinese Lunar Calendar, which dates back to 2600 BC. Each year is named after an animal, and, in turn, each animal sign is governed by five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element appears with each animal only once every 60 years. Because of the uniqueness of the Lunar Series and because of the high quality of the coins, coin collectors worldwide are drawn to these coins, which are among the most beautiful collector coins minted in modern times.
Various sizes of coins
The Lunar Series Gold Coins were minted in various sizes across the years, from 1/20-oz to kilo (32.15 oz). However, the 1-oz coins became the preferred coins for collectors, who now drive the market. As a rule, 1-oz coins are more sought after by coin collectors.
Production of the 1-oz gold coins for each year was limited to 30,000; however, only three coins in the Series had reached the production cap, the year 2000 1-oz Gold Dragon, the year 2001 1-oz Gold Snake, and the year 2002 1-oz Gold Horse. Some of the other coins in the Lunar Series barely reached half the 30,000-coin production cap when The Perth Mint closed the Series. Mintages on all The Perth Mint Lunar Series Coins have been released by The Perth Mint.
Pure gold coins
Lunar Series Gold Coins are .9999 fine gold. In contrast, gold coins in the Western World have nearly always been alloyed with a little copper, which makes the coins more durable and protects against loss of gold during use. Because the Lunar Series coins are soft .9999 fine gold, The Perth Mint encapsulated each coin in a protective hard plastic capsule.
The Lunar Series Dragon Breathes Fire
Although introduced in 1996 with the Rat, the Lunar Series Coins did not catch on until 2000 when the Dragons were minted. The 1-oz Gold Dragons were the first to reach the 30,000-oz production cap. Today, they carry the highest premiums of all the 1-oz Lunar Series Gold Coins. Undoubtedly, the popularity of the dragon in Asia and among Chinese people everywhere is the driving force behind the high premiums on the 1-oz Gold Dragons.
The Chinese revere the dragon, the only mythical creature in the Lunar Calendar. To them, the dragon is the symbol of wisdom and represents the spirit for advancement. The dragon also is viewed as the incarnation of power and authority. In Chinese communities, celebrations, festivals, and rising birth rates mark Dragon years as parents attempt to confer their offspring with the dragon's characteristics of success, happiness, and prosperity.
The year 2000 marked the return of the metal dragon after 60 years. For the children born in the year of the Metal Dragon, life is beautiful and, supposedly, everything they touch "turns to gold." Also, year 2000 was the first time in 3000 years that a Dragon year coincided with the end of a millennium. The year 1600 was the last time the Year of the Dragon coincided with the end of a century. Undoubtedly, the popularity of the dragon contributed to the year 2000 1-oz Gold Dragon being the first coin in the Lunar Series to reach its production cap of 30,000.
Gold Horses and Gold Snakes Reach Production Cap
Because of the popularity of the Lunar Series, in October 2004 the 1-oz Gold Horse became the second coin in the Series to reach the 30,000-coin production cap, and in early 2006 the year 2001 one-ounce Gold Snakes became the third coin in the Lunar Series hit the 30,000-coin production cap.
However, because The Perth Mint closed production of the Lunar Series Coins in the fall of 2007, all coins are effectively sold out. Many of the coins reached less than half the 30,000-coin production cap. (The Mint closed the Lunar Series to reduce the number of coins that it produced.)
Please note that this is not an endorsement of collector coins. In fact, CMIGS condemns the promotion of overpriced collector and numismatic coins. Generally, those coins are old U.S. gold coins; sometimes, obscure European coins are touted.
Investors not familiar with the dangers of collector coins should read our page on Old U.S. Gold Coins and our article Myths, Misunderstandings, and Outright Lies.
Call for Lunar Series Coins' Price
Investors wanting to know prices on the Lunar Series Coins that CMIGS has for sale are invited to call CMIGS at 1-800-528-1380. Tell the operator you want to talk with the Lunar Series coin specialist.
