Australian 2013 Year of the Snake Silver Coins for Collectors

Several new collector 2013 Year of the Snake Silver Coins have been issued by the Perth Mint of Australia as part of its ongoing Australian Lunar Series II program.

The new silver coins include high relief, gilded, colored and gemstone editions as well as a four-coin typeset collection.

Each of the new strikes is composed of 99.9% pure silver. These coins and four-coin set also feature limited mintages to improve their popularity with collectors.

The Australian Lunar Series II debuted in 2008 and features reverse designs showcasing the twelve creatures of the Chinese zodiac. As 2013 is the Year of the Snake, these new silver coins depict the image of a snake on their reverse.

This image first appeared as part of the 2013 Year of the Snake bullion coins that were unveiled to the public in August. The design depicts the reptile curled around a tree branch. An inscription of "Year of the Snake" can be found below the creature with the Chinese character for ‘snake’ shown to the right.

Struck as legal tender of Australia under the Australian Currency Act of 1965, these silver coins all contain Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. Inscriptions on the obverse include "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA", "2013" and the specific content and face value of the coin in question.

Additional information on the new collector silver coins is offered below:

2013 Year of the Snake High Relief Proof Silver Coins

The 2013 Year of the Snake 1 oz High Relief Proof Silver Coin features a maximum mintage of 7,500. Designs found on both the obverse and reverse of the coin are minted on concave surfaces, adding to the level of detail seen on the 32.60 mm diameter, 6.00 mm thick coin.

Each high relief strike comes with a Perth Mint display case and an illustrated shipper. In addition, a numbered certificate of authenticity is also included. Pricing of the coin is listed at AUD $107.00 but is subject to change based on silver market conditions.

2013 Year of the Snake Gilded Silver Coins

Since the debut of the Australian Lunar Series II, the Perth Mint has released a gilded version of the new annual coin. The 2013 release finds the reptile on the reverse gilded in 24-karat gold. Mintage on this gilded coin is shown as 50,000.

This release is available with two different presentation options. Initially listed at AUD $99.00, the coin is offered with its own display case, or for AUD $95.00, the coin can be purchased in a capsule only.

For an additional AUD $75.00, the Perth Mint will send a 12-coin collection case for displaying the entire series of gilded coins.

2013 Year of the Snake Colored Proof Silver Coins

The 2013 Year of the Snake 1 oz Colored Proof Silver Coin features a maximum mintage of 10,000. The snake shown on the reverse of this coin is colored to life-like hues in shades of black, gray and yellow.

Each of these silver coins features a diameter of 45.60 mm and a maximum thickness of 2.60 mm.

Pricing of the colored coin is shown as AUD $104.00 with each coming with its own display case, numbered certificate of authenticity and illustrated shipper.

2013 Year of the Snake Gemstone Silver Coins

The largest of the new collector releases is the 2013 Year of the Snake 1 Kilo Gemstone Silver Coin. This strike is composed of one kilo of 99.9% pure silver and features a maximum mintage of 5,000.

If the large size and limited mintage is not enough to entice collectors, the reverse of the coin may, as it features a black diamond set in place of one of the eyes of the reptile. These silver coins have a minimum gross weight of 1001.002 grams, a diameter of 100.60 mm and a thickness of 14.60 mm.

Pricing is shown as AUD $1,950.00.

2013 Year of the Snake Typeset Collection

One of the previously mentioned coins is available in the 2013 Year of the Snake Typeset Collection, the gilded edition. Another is a colored version, similar to the one described above, but this one has the snake in yellow and green.

Those two are joined in the collection by a bullion coin and a collector proof Year of the Snake Coin that debuted last month. All four coins are struck from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver and represent four different finishes.

Mintage of the four-coin set is listed at 1,500. Each set comes with a display case to present the set and a numbered certificate of authenticity. The four-coin set may be purchased for AUD $365.00 with pricing subject to change based on the silver market.

All of the above options may be purchased directly from the Perth Mint of Australia.

Ad Banner to Perth Mint Website

See additional Perth Mint product highlights for collectors from this site’s guide of Australian coins.

About The Perth Mint

The Perth Mint (www.perthmint.com.au) is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint when it opened in 1899 (the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint, which are both now closed).