Lunar Silver | Perth Mint

Lunar Silver | Perth Mint Coins at BGASC

Plenty of mints around the world release lunar-themed bullion to coincide with the Chinese zodiac. Among the most popular is the Lunar Series from Perth Mint. The series started in 1996 with the Year of the Rat, but just for gold coins. Silver coins debuted a few years later in 1999 and have been issued annually ever since. Learn more about Lunar Silver from the Perth Mint, right here at BGASC.

Lunar Series I

Silver coins in Lunar Series I debuted in 1999 for the Year of the Rabbit. From 1999 to 2003, which encompasses the Year of the Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, and Goat, coins were released in 5 unique sizes. This included 1/2 oz coins, along with 1 oz, 2 oz, 10 oz, and 1 kilogram coins.

For 2004s the Year of the Monkey, two more sizes were added (5 oz, and 1/2 kilogram.) For 2005s the Year of the Rooster, all 7 weights were released. 2006 saw the Year of the Dog as well as an 8th size added, a 10 kilogram coin which was the largest in the series.

In 2008, the Year of the Rat, a Lunar Series I and Lunar Series II coin was released, each with a unique design. From 2008 to 2010 just three weights were issued each year, 1 kilogram, 2 oz, and 1 oz.

Lunar Series II

As mentioned above, Lunar Series II kicked off in 2008 with the first animal in the zodiac, the Year of the Mouse. Lunar Series II was introduced with the 8 weights that we saw in Lunar Series I (10 kilograms, 1 kilogram, 1/2 kilogram, 10 oz, 5 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz, and 1/2 oz.)

Lunar Series II coins issued from 2008 to 2016 have a purity of .999 silver, whereas coins issued from 2017-2019 have a purity of .9999 pure silver. Lunar Series I coins featured simplistic designs of each animal along with the traditional Chinese character for the animal. Lunar Series II started to see more complex designs, such as multiple animals in one design field.

Lunar Series III

In 2020, the Year of the Rat returned, and as such Lunar Series III was introduced. For the first few years, coins were issued in six unique weights (10 kilograms, 1 kilogram, 5 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz, 1/2 oz.)

With Lunar Series III, designs continued to become more and more complex. For example, the 2020 issue saw two mice eating some corn. The 2024 release saw a dragon with a flaming pearl, breathing fire.

2024 releases will also bear the unique P125 mint mark to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Perth Mint.

Obverse Designs

Annual coin programs from the Perth Mint use the effigy of the reigning British monarch on the obverse of their coins. Over the years this has included several designs.

• 1999-2019: Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley
• 2020-Present: Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark

Gold coins issued from 1996 to 1999 in this series showcase Raphael Maklouf’s design of the Queen. Even though King Charles III has assumed the throne, the Queen as of 2024 is still seen on the obverse of these silver coins.

Unique Strikes of Perth Mint Lunar Silver Coins

While BU coins in the series are more common and well-known, the popularity of the series has led to the release of many other strikes. This includes the following:

• Colorized/ Proof Colorized: Colorized coins, as well as proof-colorized coins, are issued in the series. This includes unique designs as compared to the BU version.
• High-Relief Proof: Featuring the same design as the BU counterpart, the Perth Mint issues proof strikes with high-relief visuals.
• Antique: The Perth Mint also creates antique strikes. These coins arrive inside a presentation box with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Purchasing Lunar Silver | Perth Mint Coins at BGASC

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the BGASC customer service team with any questions you may have about these Lunar Silver Coins from the Perth Mint. We can be reached via email, through our online chat feature, or by giving us a call at 888-992-4272.