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Australian 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Bullion Coins Released
September 18, 2011 by Darrin Lee Unser · Leave a Comment
Australian 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Bullion Coins were released by the Perth Mint of Australia (http://www.perthmint.com.au/) earlier this month. The Year of the Dragon coins are issued in 99.9% pure silver in seven different sizes, including 10 kilo, 1 kilo, 10 ounce, 5 ounce, 2 ounce, 1 ounce and 1/2 ounce.
2012 Year of the Dragon Silver 1 Kilo Bullion Coin
The coins’ appearance mark a continuation of the Perth’s annual Australian Lunar Series II which features reverse design themes based on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. For that zodiac, 2012 — January 23, 2012 to February 9, 2013, specifically, is seen as the Year of the Dragon. Thus, a mythical dragon is depicted on the reverse of the silver bullion coins.
Lunar silver bullion coins first appeared from the Perth back in 1999 when the Australian Lunar Series made its debut. That series was joined in 2008 when the Perth Mint released the associated Lunar Series II of which these Dragon coins belong.
The series has proved popular among both investors and collectors. Collectors seek the Lunar coins for their unique annually changing designs while investors obtain the coins with the knowledge that each strike is guaranteed for weight and purity by the Australian government.
All Year of the Dragon silver bullion coins feature a legal tender face value under the Australian Currency Act 1965. Associated face values range from AUD $300 for the 10 kilo coin down to $.50 for the 1/2 ounce strike.
Shown on the obverse of each coin is an Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II of England. The obverse also includes the inscriptions of "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA," "2012," "999 SILVER" and the face value and weight of each strike. The reverse design of the dragon is joined by the inscription of "Year of the Dragon."
The coins may be obtained through the Perth Mint’s distribution and coin dealer network.
Maximum mintages for the coins are shown in the specifications table below.
Lunar Silver Series II – Year of the Dragon Coin Specifications
| Size | 10 kilo | 1 kilo | 10 oz | 5 oz | 2 oz | 1 oz | 1/2 oz |
| Silver Content (oz) | 321.510 | 32.151 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | .5 |
| Face Value (AUS) | $300 | $30 | $10 | $8 | $2 | $1 | $.50 |
| Minimum Gross Weight (g) | 10,010.000 | 1,001.002 | 311.347 | 155.673 | 62.270 | 31.135 | 15.591 |
| Maximum Diameter (mm) | 221.00 | 100.60 | 85.60 | 65.60 | 55.60 | 45.60 | 36.60 |
| Maximum Thickness (mm) | 33.00 | 14.60 | 6.60 | 5.80 | 3.60 | 2.60 | 2.30 |
| Maximum Mintage Limit | 500 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | 300,000 | unlimited |
Collector Year of the Dragon Silver Coins
The Perth Mint also created a 2012 Year of the Dragon Silver Proof Coin sold individually, in a three-coin set and also in a special 1 kg size. However, the coins and set proved extremely popular and quickly sold out.
Collectors will have additional opportunities later this year to obtain special versions of the Year of the Dragon coin, however, since the Perth plans to issue a gemstone edition, a gilded edition and a silver proof colored coin.
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About the Perth Mint
The Royal Mint of England originally opened the Perth Mint of Australia (http://www.perthmint.com.au/) in 1899 as a branch of the London facility. Its original purpose was to refine gold from nearby deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and mint gold sovereigns from it.
It continued in operation as a branch of the Royal Mint until ownership was transferred to the State Government of Western Australia in 1970. Today, the Perth is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program in addition to producing some of the world’s most unique collectible coins.
