Australian Platinum Lunar Coins
Perth Mint Platinum Lunar series - most recently launched in 2020
The coins of the current 3rd Australian Lunar Series always depict the Chinese zodiac animal for the corresponding year of issuance on their reverse side. The design of the platinum version of the coins is identical to the one used on the Australian Gold Lunar coins that have been minted since 1996. Even though production of the Australian Silver Lunar coins started only a few years later in 1999, investors had to wait until 2020 for Australia's Perth Mint to begin issuing a platinum version of the coins. The first Australian Platinum Lunar coins that were issued that year were dedicated to the "Year of the Mouse".
The Perth Mint Platinum Lunar coins are minted out of 99.95% pure platinum and only 1 oz coins are available for now. Both brilliant uncirculated as well as proof coins are issued annually up to a strict mintage limit. Investors that intend to buy platinum in the form of these coins therefore have to act quickly whenever new coins of the Perth Mint Platinum Lunar Series are issued as the coins are likely to sell out very fast.
The coins have legal tender status in Australia and their weight and purity is guaranteed by the Australian government. As a security feature, the coins feature a micro-laser engraved letter within the reverse design that is only detectable under a magnifying glass. Individual Platinum Lunar coins are sold in protective plastic capsules but the coins can also be purchased in sealed rolls of 20 coins and in sealed boxes of 100 coins. American buyers that are investing in platinum for their retirements can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).
Platinum Lunar Coin 2022
Australian Platinum Lunar Series
| Weight | Face Value | Purity | Diameter x Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | AUD $ 100 | 99.95% | 32.60 x 2.45 mm |
All Platinum Lunar Coin Designs
Australian Platinum Lunar Coin Design
The obverse side of the coins shows Jody Clark's newest official portrait of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is shown in profile wearing her royal tiara. The depiction of the Queen is meant to symbolize Australia’s unwavering allegiance to the crown and the British Commonwealth. The central obverse design is surrounded by the words "ELIZABETH II" and "AUSTRALIA". These two inscriptions appear on the upper left and right side of each Australian Platinum Lunar coin. The face value, weight and purity information appear underneath her majesty's profile on the obverse of all coins of the Australian Platinum Lunar Series.
The design of the reverse side of the Perth Mint Lunar coins changes annually and always depicts the Chinese zodiac animal for the corresponding year of issuance. The animal design that appears on each Australian Lunar platinum coin is identical to the one found on the Gold Lunar coins of the same year. The current 2022 issue is dedicated to the Chinese Year of the Tiger and depicts a majestic tiger menacingly baring its teeth while surveying the scenery from the top of a ridge. The English word for the respective Lunar animal and its corresponding Chinese hanzi character as well as the year of mintage also appear within the central design of the reverse side of the coins. The Perth Mint's mint mark P appears on the reverse near the left edge of each Platinum Lunar coin. For security reasons, the Australian Platinum Lunar coins also feature a micro-laser engraved letter within the reverse design that is only detectable under a magnifying glass.
The initial 2020 release of the Perth Mint Platinum Lunar series was dedicated to the "Year of the Mouse" and depicts a lone mouse among stalks of wheat. The following 2nd release of the coins for 2021 was then dedicated to the "Year of the Ox" and depicts a powerful ox among bamboo stalks.
History of the Perth Mint Platinum Lunar Coins
The Perth Mint started the 3rd series of the Australian Lunar coins in 2020 with the "Year of the Mouse" coins. That year also saw the initial release of a 99.95% pure platinum version of the coins. The Platinum Lunar Series then continued the following year with the "Year of the Ox" coins. Only 1 oz coins are minted for now and both brilliant uncirculated as well as proof coins are produced and issued.
Mintage Numbers
Annual mintage of brilliant uncirculated Australian Lunar platinum coins is limited to 5,000 coins and that maximum mintage was reached in both 2020 and 2021 according to information published here by the Perth Mint. Proof coins will be even harder to obtain since a maximum of only 188 such proof Lunar coins will be minted each year.
Australian Gold Lunar coins
The Perth Mint's 1st Australian Gold Lunar series already started in 1996. Due to the success of the 1st series, a 2nd series followed from 2008 to 2019 and the current 3rd series started in 2020. The reverse side of the 99.99% pure Australian Gold Lunar coins changes every year and always displays the current year's Chinese zodiac animal. The coins are also known as the Perth Mint Lunar gold coins. Both brilliant uncirculated and proof versions of the coins are offered and there is also a wide choice of different sizes between 1/20 oz and 10 kg. High relief and ultra high relief proof coins as well as colorized versions of the coins are produced as well. Annual mintage numbers of the coins are generally quite low compared with other popular gold bullion coins.
The Australian Gold Lunar coin page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.
Australian Silver Lunar coins
The Perth Mint started with the 1st series of the Australian Silver Lunar coins in 1999. The 2nd series followed in 2008 (while the 1st series was still ongoing) and ended in 2019. The current 3rd series then started the following year. The silver coins are 99.99% pure since 2017 (99.9% pure previously). The design of the reverse side of the Perth Mint Lunar silver coins changes every year and always depicts the Chinese zodiac animal for that year of issuance. The displayed zodiac animal design is different from that on the gold version of the coins. Many different special editions are offered in addition to the brilliant uncirculated and proof versions and there is also a wide choice of different sizes between 1/2 oz and 10 kg.
The Australian Silver Lunar coin page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.