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Lunar Gold Coins
Perth Mint - Australia
The Australian/Chinese Lunar Series
Gold Bullion
Investment Potential and Reasons
Supporting Long Term Profitability
Background and Concept
The Lunar Gold Coin Series from the Perth Mint is a beautiful collection based on the ancient 12-year Chinese Lunar Calendar, dating beyond 2,600 B.C., and has become one of the most popular collector series minted in recent times. These coins are steeped in tradition and symbolism, featuring a different animal for each year within the cycle. Although China has officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar still remains popular within Chinese culture and many still believe each animal has a profound influence on the personality of those born under its rule. According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day about which was to head the cycle of years, so they sought counsel from the gods who in turn proposed a contest to determine their hierarchy: whichever animal was to first reach the opposite bank of the river would lead the cycle of years, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish. The twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had instead jumped upon its back, so as the ox was about to jump ashore and win the race, the rat leaped from the ox's back, surpassing the mighty beast and winning the race. The pig, which was very lazy, was the last to cross the river. This is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second and the pig last. Read more about the Chinese Lunar Collector Coins. Adapted from Chinese Culture Center of San
Francisco |
| 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, and should be considered part of a diversified bullion position.
1. Each coin in the series is limited in production, a small number are minted relative to the much larger productions seen with bullion production elsewhere in the world. Collector interest has already pushed prices higher on Dragon and Horse coins, but the rest of the series can still be acquired for small premium and will move directly with the price of bullion. We are not suggesting these bullion coins will be rare coins but they are certainly limited, providing them with value beyond intrinsic.
2. With a few exceptions, most of these coins trade for a very small premium over their melt value, making them a viable bullion alternative but offering more potential at surprisingly little additional cost. Each coin is superb in quality with a production strike high in contrast, a cameo surface and comes in a customized acrylic container.
3. The series has a "built-in" collector and investor base which grows each year and which could become explosive if interest is developed worldwide. Wall Street experts speculate that 40% of all manufactured goods will be produced in China in the next decade, with a correlative explosive growth in personal wealth in a culture that already appreciates and covets gold coins. There is also superstition involved with these coins in that each has its own "good luck" features that are highly prized by many cultures. Additionally, this series is produced by the Australian Perth Mint, which like the US Mint, is operated by a sovereign entity and with complete accountability and transparency.
4. The reverse of the coin changes each year, which like the Panda Coin series, can increase collector interest producing an investment dynamic independent of the coin's bullion value. There can also be greater demand for some of the lower mintage coins within the series as some are damaged and mishandled, an inherent trait when modern bullion issues are ignored over the years.
5. To figure our Sell Price, add the noted small premium to the linked Spot price, call CNI to confirm current Spot price and specific coin availability. When figuring our Buy Price for mint condition coins within their original plastic, do the same. Orders of $2000 or more are shipped insured US mail at no extra charge and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. CNI is open M - F 9:00 to 5:00 Pacific time so 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 Lunar Series Collector Coins
All the gold coins of the 12-coin series have been minted; the first 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 and are 0.9999 fine (24-karat) and individually encapsulated in a protective acrylic case. The incredible global success of the first series spawned the second series which began in 2008 and is also available from CNI.
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.
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 Year 2000 1-ounce Gold Dragons, the 2001 Gold Snake and the 2002 1-ounce Gold Horses have reached their productions caps and are no longer being produced, so availability is limited to the secondary market and these coins carry premiums over the coins within the series that have not reached the 30,000-coin production cap.
Another feature that makes this series so 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 purchased near bullion coin prices, permitting 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 and for only the Lunar Series coins.
Somehow, 30,000 became a magical number for the 1-ounce gold coins in the Lunar Series. The number is large enough for broad investor interest but small enough that at attainment of 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 has also hit the production cap and may experience a likewise increase in premium.
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 started in 1996, the official likeness of the Queen was younger. In 1999, however, Buckingham Palace changed the official likeness to a mature Queen, which is carried forward into the Lunar II series.
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.