The Chinese lunar calendar is known to be thousands of years old but they still use it today to mark special events and festivities. In fact, their system is known worldwide along with the twelve animals used to differentiate its cycles.
CLICK TO ENLARGE: 2010 Year of the Tiger Silver Coins: Gemstone, gilded and colorized versions
Said to signify the courage and competitiveness of a natural leader, the tiger is one of those twelve animals and is found on some of the newest releases from The Perth Mint. The 2010 Year of the Tiger Silver Coins feature a variety of options for the collector or gift giver.
Perhaps the most popular in this series will be the colored tiger silver coin. Struck from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver, the 1 dollar face value coin shows a lying tiger that has been colorized to its natural hues. To the left of the tiger is the Chinese character for the animal while underneath is the inscription ‘Year of the Tiger.’ The colored coin is available from the Perth Mint for $68.18 AUS and ships with a presentation case. It is limited to a mintage of 170,000 worldwide.
For those desiring a bit more flash instead of color, the Perth has created a one ounce gilded tiger coin. On this piece, the body of the tiger has been coated with 24 karat gold. Capped at 50,000 coins, the gilded tiger sells with or without a case starting at $69.09 AUS.
A four coin set is also available which contains the colorized tiger and the gilded tiger coin along with earlier released tiger silver bullion and proof versions. A maximum of 1,500 of the sets will be created and each ships in a red and black four coin display case for $254.55 AUS.
With an identical design, the Perth has gone much bigger in its striking of a 1 kilo tiger coin, which includes a golden topaz gemstone. This large coin measures over 100mm in diameter with a thickness of 14.60mm. The 30 dollar face value strike also features a colorized tiger but a topaz has been inserted where the cats eye would be. It is limited to a mintage of only 5,000 and sells for $1,450 AUS with a presentation case and a certificate of authenticity.
The coins and set may be ordered from around the world online at The Perth Mint website.
About the Perth Mint
The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint – the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).
The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.
In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.
