The Perth Mint of Australia (www.perthmint.com.au) has issued the newest releases from its annual Australian Lunar Series II program with a staggering sixteen coins presented as part of the 2012 Year of the Dragon Gold and Silver Bullion Series. These sixteen Year of the Dragon Gold and Silver Bullion Coins are spread across nine different 99.99% pure gold strikes and seven composed of 99.9% pure silver.
Each of the bullion coins features the image of a mythical dragon which is the fifth creature to be celebrated as part of the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Under that zodiac, those born between the upcoming Chinese New Year of January 23, 2012 and the end of that 12-month calendar on February 09, 2013 are said to be born in the Year of the Dragon.
Personality traits associated with these yet to be born individuals include confident, enterprising, independent, self-assured, brave and passionate. These same traits are also tied to those born in previous Year of the Dragons such as 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000.
The release of the bullion coins mark a continuation of the Perth’s Australian Lunar Series II which dates back to 2008. The Perth Mint, however, has been striking annual lunar coins for many years before that as the original Australian Lunar series dates back to 2000.
Shown on the obverse of each coin is the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England. Obverse inscriptions include "Elizabeth II," "Australia", "2012", the face value of the coin and the weight and purity of each strike.
Maximum mintages vary on each strike ranging from unlimited for many of the coins down to only 100 maximum of the largest 10 kilo gold coin. The chart below offers those maximum mintages along with specifications of each of the Year of the Dragon bullion coins.
Specifications for 2012 Year of the Dragon Gold Bullion Coins
| Size | Maximum Mintage | Troy Oz. | Face Value (AUD) | Diameter (mm) |
| 10 Kilo | 100 | 321.507 | $30,000 | 180.60 |
| 1 Kilo | unlimited | 32.151 | $3,000 | 100.60 |
| 10 Ounce | unlimited | 10 | $1,000 | 75.60 |
| 2 Ounce | unlimited | 2 | $200 | 41.10 |
| 1 Ounce | 30,000 | 1 | $100 | 39.34 |
| 1/2 Ounce | unlimited | .5 | $50 | 30.60 |
| 1/4 Ounce | unlimited | .25 | $25 | 22.60 |
| 1/10 Ounce | unlimited | .1 | $15 | 18.60 |
| 1/20 Ounce | unlimited | .05 | $5 | 14.80 |
Specifications for 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Bullion Coins
| Size | Maximum Mintage | Troy Oz. | Face Value (AUD) | Diameter (mm) |
| 10 Kilo | 500 | 321.510 | $300 | 221.00 |
| 1 Kilo | unlimited | 32.151 | $30 | 100.60 |
| 10 Ounce | unlimited | 10 | $10 | 85.60 |
| 5 Ounce | unlimited | 5 | $8 | 65.60 |
| 2 Ounce | unlimited | 2 | $2 | 55.60 |
| 1 Ounce | 300,000 | 1 | $1 | 45.60 |
| 1/2 Ounce | unlimited | .5 | $.50 | 36.60 |
Each coin will ship in a protective acrylic capsule and is available, if not sold out, directly from the Perth Mint’s bullion site (www.perthmintbullion.com). Sales of several of the bullion coins have been temporarily suspended as of this writing, but are expected to return. The coins are also available through coin and precious metal dealers from around the world.
See other Perth Mint coin highlights from this site’s Australian Coin Guide.
About the Perth Mint of Australia
The Perth Mint is wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia and is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. They are also responsible for striking some of the most unique numismatic coins available in the world.
The Perth was actually opened as a branch of the British Royal Mint in 1899. Its initial purpose was to refine the gold from nearby deposits in order to mint sovereigns for the British colony. Ownership was transferred to the Western Australia state government in 1970.
