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Lunar Gold Coins
Perth Mint - Australia
The Australian/Chinese Lunar Series
Gold
Investment Potential And Reasons
Supporting Long Term Profitability
Background and Concept
The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February. The Chinese have adopted the Western calendar since 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Many Chinese calendars will print both the solar dates and the Chinese lunar dates. Read more about the Chinese Lunar Calendar. |
Background Information
In the United States, the years are dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, for example, 1977 means 1,977 years after the birth of Christ. This represents a linear perception of time, with time proceeding in a straight line from the past to the present and the future. In traditional China, dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that is repeated time after time according to a pattern. A popular folk method which reflected this cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or "sign" according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Therefore, every twelve years the same animal name or "sign" would reappear.
A cultural sidelight of the animal signs in Chinese folklore is that horoscopes have developed around the animal signs, much like monthly horoscopes in the West have been developed for the different moon signs, Pisces, Aries, etc. For example, a Chinese horoscope may predict that a person born in the Year of the Horse would be, "cheerful, popular, and loves to compliment others". These horoscopes are amusing, but not regarded seriously by the Chinese people.
The animal signs also serve a useful social function for finding out people's ages. Instead of asking directly how old a person is, people often ask what is his or her animal sign. This would place that person's age within a cycle of 12 years, and with a bit of common sense, we can deduce the exact age. More often, though, people ask for animal signs not to compute a person's exact numerical age, but to simply know who is older among friends and acquaintances.
Legend
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.
All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last.
Zodiac Chart:
The rotating cycle of twelve animal signs was a folk method for naming the years in traditional China. The animal signs for one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years. 1976 was the Year of the Dragon, and 1977 was the year of the Snake.
Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco
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| Australia's specialist precious metals mint was founded in 1899, and operated as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint until 1970. Now owned by the Government of Western Australia, it continues to lead the world in the design and productions of superlative minted products. Its success derives from the undisputed purity of its gold, silver and platinum, the immense popularity of its coin and medallion designs, and its uncompromising commitment to quality manufacture. Located in the third biggest gold and silver-producing nation in the world, The Perth Mint is ideally positioned to create the precious metal treasures of the third millennium. |
We at California Numismatic Investments believe this unique series offers a number of compelling reasons for ownership. It is certainly an alternative to run of the mill bullion coins or bars, and as such should be part of every bullion position.
1. The limited production, relative to ordinary bullion coins, makes these pure gold coins popular. Each series is limited, a small number are minted relative to the much larger production runs seen in the world of bullion production. Collector interest has already pushed prices higher on The Dragon and The Horse. The rest of the series can be acquired for small premium. We are not suggesting these bullion coins are rare coins but they are certainly limited. Most of the Lunar Series will move directly with the price of bullion, but for the price of bullion you get something extra and because the series is new you are getting in on the ground floor.
2. With a few exceptions most of these coins trade for a very small premium over their melt value, thus making them a viable bullion alternative. These bullion gold coins offer more potential at surprisingly little additional cost. Each coin is produced by the world famous Perth Mint in Australia and the quality is superb. The coin is a production strike with a high contrast, cameo surface and comes in a custom, hard plastic container.
3. The series has a "built-in" collector and investor base which grows each year and could become explosive if interest is developed worldwide. In a recent Wall Street report experts believe that 40% of all manufactured goods will be produced in China in the next decade. This explosion in growth simply increases gold demand from a culture that already appreciates and covets gold coins. There is also something of a mystery involved with these coins in that each has several "good luck" features which are highly prized by many cultures. Finally, there is a big advantage in having the Perth Mint involved with producing collector coins in that like our own US Mint, it is run and owned by a sovereign entity, meaning everything is transparent and aboveboard: Visit the Inside of the Perth Mint.
4. The pictures change each year like the Panda series but with a fresh perspective. This added feature could produce a wave of collector interest producing an investment dynamic independent of the coin's bullion value. There could also be interest generated because lower mintage figures could produce elusive issues as some are damaged and mishandled which is alwasys the case when these modern bullion issues are ignored over the years.
5. To figure our Sell Price add the noted small premium to our posted Spot price, call to confirm current Spot price and availability. When figuring our Buy Price do the same and remember when your selling, the coins must be in mint condition with original plastic. Orders of $2000 or more are shipped insured US mail at no extra charge and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Call toll-free (1-800-225-7531) for further information or e-mail kenslater@golddealer.com for a quick answer to your questions. Thanks for reading and enjoy this intriguing and historic set of bullion gold coins.
More about the Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series
The Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series Gold and Silver Bullion Coins have become some of the most popular collector coins minted in recent times. Because The Perth Mint sells the Lunar Series gold coins at bullion coins prices, bullion coin investors also are buying the Lunar Series 1-ounce gold coins, and many bullion coin investors are becoming collectors.
Chinese Lunar Calendar
The Lunar Series is based on the ancient 12-year Chinese Lunar Calendar, which dates back beyond 2,600BC. The Lunar Calendar is steeped in tradition and symbolism, and features a different animal with each year. Based on the appearance of the new moon, the Lunar Calendar associates a difference animal with each year in the 12-year cycle.
Although China uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, the lunar calendar is used for determining festivals. The Chinese believe each animal has a profound influence on the personality of those born under its rule.
The Lunar Series Collector Coins
All the gold coins of the 12-coin series have been minted. This cycle of the Lunar Calendar began with the Year of the Rat in 1996 and concludes in 2007 with the Year of the Pig. All coins in the Lunar Series are legal tender Australian coins.
The Lunar Series Gold Coins are 0.9999 fine (24-karat), but the Silver Coins are 0.999 fine. (Although most pure gold coins minted today are 0.9999 fine, few mints produce 0.9999 fine silver coins. The Royal Canadian Mint's Silver Maple Leafs are 0.9999 fine. However, Silver Eagles, the world's best-selling 1-ounce silver coins, are 0.999 fine.) Each Lunar Series coin is individually encapsulated in a protective acrylic case.
Becoming Collector Favorites
The primary reason for the coins' popularity is their exquisite quality. Many collectors of Perth Mint coins assert that The Perth Mint is without equal when it comes to producing collector coins.
So beautifully struck are the Lunar Series Bullion Coins that some investors mistakenly think the Lunar Series Bullion Coins are proof coins. The coins' raised images are highly polished and contrast with satin-like fields around the images. This feature can best be seen on the obverse, with the image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which graces the front of all the Lunar Series coins.
The reverses of the coins carry images of animals associated with each Lunar Calendar year. And, different renditions of the animals are used on the silver coins than on the gold coins. However, for the 2006 Year of the Dog, different breeds are used. The 2006 Gold Dogs display a beagle, and the silver coins have a German shepherd.
Limited Production Coins
Another reason for the Lunar Series coins' popularity is that they are limited production coins. In contrast, Gold Eagles, which are the world's best-selling 22-karat gold coins, and Gold Maple Leafs, the world's best-selling 24-karat gold coins, are unlimited production coins. The 1-ounce Lunar Series gold coins are limited to 30,000 coins for each year and clearly have become collector favorites.
The kilo, the 10-ounce, and the 2-ounce gold coin mintages are unlimited, but the 1-ounce coins are limited to 30,000; the ½-ounce to 40,000; the ¼-ounce to 60,000; the 1/10-ounce to 80,000; and the 1/20-ounce to 100,000. Of the silver coins, the kilo, the ½-kilo, the 10-ounce, the 5-ounce, and the 2-ounce are unlimited, but only 300,000 1-ounce and 500,000 ½-ounce silver coins will be issued.
The Year 2000 1-ounce Gold Dragons and the Year 2000 1-ounce Gold Horses have reached their productions caps and are no longer being produced. The 1-ounce Gold Dragons and the 1-ounce Gold Horses are available, however, in the secondary market, but both coins carry premiums over the Lunar Series 1-ounce gold coins that have not reached the 30,000-coin production cap.
Another feature that makes the Lunar Series popular is that The Perth Mint can produce back-dated coins until the production cap is met. This means that the earlier coins are still available and can be bought at or near bullion coin prices, which permits collectors who learn of the Series late to acquire the earlier coins at bullion coin prices. The policy of minting coins from earlier years is unique to The Perth Mint for only the Lunar Series coins.
Silver Coins added to the Lunar Series
When The Perth Mint launched its Australian Lunar Series in 1996, only gold coins were produced. In 1999, The Mint added silver coins to the Series.
Although The Perth Mint produces proof versions of the Lunar Series coins, the bullion coins have captured the imaginations of coin collectors worldwide. This is especially true for the 1-ounce gold coins, two of which--the Year 2000 Gold Dragons and the Year 2002 Gold Horses--have reached their production caps.
Somehow, 30,000 became a magical number for the 1-ounce gold coins in the Lunar Series. The number is large enough to let a lot of collectors get involved, but small enough that when coins reach their production caps, they pick up premiums.
Shortly after the year 2000 1-ounce Dragons reached their production cap in the summer of 2001, they picked up premiums in the secondary market. The year 2002 1-ounce Gold Horses reached the production cap in the spring of 2005 and also picked up premiums in the secondary market. However, the 1-ounce Gold Dragon carries the highest premium, the dragon essentially being China's icon. The year 2001 1-ounce Gold Snakes seem likely to be the next coin in the Lunar Series to hit the production cap.
Queen Elizabeth II Matures
By law, the Lunar Series coins have to display the image of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. When the Series was started in 1996, the official likeness of the Queen was younger. In 1999, however, the Buckingham Palace changed the official likeness to a mature Queen.
The change resulted in the first three years' coins (1996, 1997, and 1998) having the image of the younger Queen Elizabeth and with the later coins having the mature image. In years to come, after the Series has closed, this uniqueness could stimulate greater interest in the Series in Great Britain and those countries that used to be part of the British Empire.