2012 Australia 1 Kilo Pure 9999 Silver Coin Year of the Dragon Perth Mint 1 kg

2012 Australia 1 Kilo Pure 9999  Silver Coin Year of the Dragon Perth Mint

Bar Highlights:

• Contains 1 kilo (32.15 oz) of .999 fine Silver.
• Each coin comes in a plastic capsule.
• Obverse: The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.
• Reverse: Features a traditional Chinese dragon, a long, scaled, serpentine creature with four legs, and a “Pearl of Wisdom” and the Chinese character for “Dragon.”
• Sovereign coin backed by the Australian government.
• Note: pre-owned coin capsule has scratches,  please see pictures for condition,

The Silver Mint Perth Lunar Series II is one of the most widely sought after collections in production today. The collection is a beautiful tribute to the Chinese Lunar Calendar and was introduced in 2008, following the popularity of the first Silver series release in 1999, and will end in 2019.

The Silver Perth Lunar Series II features a different animal every year, starting with the mouse coin in 2008 followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The obverse features the profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as captured by Raphael Maklouf. Although the Gold Perth Lunar Series II has also been released each year since 2008, the Gold and Silver editions feature differing designs.

The Lunar Series is based on the ancient 12-year Chinese lunar calendar, which dates back to 2,600 B.C. The Lunar Calendar is steeped in tradition and symbolism. Based on the appearance of the moon, the Lunar Calendar associates a different animal with each year in the 12-year cycle. These animals are said to have a profound influence on the personalities of people born under their rule.

Established in 1899, the Perth Mint predates the federation of Australia by two years. The mint was initially established for two reasons: to refine the vast amounts of Gold flooding in from various areas of Western Australia and to produce Gold sovereigns and half sovereigns to be used throughout Great Britain. Although Australia became an independent nation in 1901, the Perth Mint remained under the authority of the British crown until 1970. Following a 1987 State Act of Parliament, Gold Corporation, a company entirely owned by the Government of Western Australia, was established and mandated to operate the Perth Mint to market their Gold, Silver and Platinum Australian coins overseas.