2012 Australian Year of the Dragon 5 Ounce Silver Proof Coin Available

The Perth Mint of Australia continues its highly successful Lunar Series II with the release of the 2012 Year of the Dragon 5 Ounce Silver Proof Coin. This proof coin features the same basic imagery as previous Year of the Dragon incarnations, but is struck from a massive five ounces of 99.9% pure silver.

A maximum mintage for the coin has been established by the Perth Mint of just 5,000. The limited edition strike is currently available for AUS $450.00, or $437 in U.S. dollars.

The related 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Bullion Coins made their debut in September of 2011. Since then, the Perth Mint has expanded on the series with several other varieties including colored, gilded, gemstone and even high relief coins.

Those born in 2012 (as well as those with birth years in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000) are said to be born under the dragon. It is one of twelve creatures included as part of the Chinese zodiac and is representative of the personality traits of confidence, independence, bravery and passion.

Year of the Dragon 5 Ounce Coin Designs and Specifications

All 2012 Year of the Dragon Coins from the Perth Mint, including this new five ounce coin, feature the same reverse design which is a representation of a dragon along with a symbolic ‘pearl of wisdom.’ The mythical creature appears in a coiled position on the left side of the design and surrounds the Chinese character for dragon.

"Year of the Dragon" is inscribed on the bottom of each reverse image. The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mintmark is found to the right of the design.

The Perth Mint strikes each coin as legal tender of Australia under the Australian Currency Act of 1965. These coins have a legal tender face value of AUS $8 which is inscribed on the obverse of the coin with "8 DOLLARS." Other obverse inscriptions include "2012," "5 Ounce 999 SILVER," "AUSTRALIA" and "ELIZABETH II."

The obverse inscriptions all surround the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. "IRB" is inscribed below the portrait to represent the artist.

Each coin is housed in a black presentation case which appears along with a numbered certificate of authenticity inside an illustrated shipper.

As previously mentioned, the maximum mintage for the 2012 Year of the Dragon 5 Ounce Silver Proof Coin is just 5,000 and are available now for AUS $450.00

Ad Banner to Perth Mint Website for New Coin Releases

About the Perth Mint

The Royal Mint of England established the Perth Mint (www.perthmint.com.au) as a branch facility in 1899 to refine and strike gold recovered from nearby deposits. Ownership was transferred to the State Government of Western Australia in 1970. Today the Perth is responsible for the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program in addition to striking some of the most unique numismatic coins in the world.