| The 2006 Year of the Dog, the 11th gold coin in | | | | Production of the 1-oz coins is limited to 30,000-a |
| The Perth Mint's 12-coin Lunar Series, has been | | | | number that has turned out to be ideal for a |
| released and is now immediately available for | | | | collectors' series. The 2000 Year of the Dragon |
| delivery. Officially, however, the Year of the Dog | | | | reached the production cap of 30,000 and sells at |
| does not begin until January 29, 2006, and it runs | | | | a big premium in the secondary market. |
| until February 17, 2007. | | | | The 2002 Year of the Horse 1-oz gold coins also |
| The Perth Mint Lunar Series gold coins come in | | | | hit the production cap and is no longer available |
| eight sizes: 1-kilo, 10-oz, 2-oz, 1-oz, ½-oz, | | | | from The Perth Mint. Recently, premiums on 1-oz |
| ¼-oz, 1/10-oz, and 1/20-oz, with monetary | | | | Gold Horses jumped, which suggests that |
| denominations of $3000, $1000, $200, $100, $50, | | | | wholesalers are out of coins or are about to be. If |
| $25, $15, and $5 respectively. An image of Her | | | | the wholesalers are out of 1-oz Gold Horses, they |
| Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graces the obverse | | | | will be difficult to find in large quantities. |
| the reverse carries the image of a beagle. The | | | | The 2001 Year of the Snake will probably be the |
| 1-oz ounce ($100) is by far the most popular of | | | | next 1-oz gold coin in the Series to hit the |
| the Lunar Series gold coins. | | | | production cap. Gold Snakes usually can be bought |
| The silver coins in the Lunar Series come in seven | | | | at premiums comparable to 1-oz Gold Eagles, the |
| sizes: 1-kilo, ½-kilo, 10-oz, 5-oz, 2-oz, 1-oz, | | | | world's best selling gold bullion coins. The other |
| and 1/20-oz, with monetary denominations of | | | | 1-oz Lunar Series gold coins that have not |
| $30, $15, $10, $8, $2, $1, and 50 cents | | | | reached the production cap of 30,000 usually sell |
| respectively. As with the gold coins in the Series, | | | | at slightly higher premiums than Gold Eagles. |
| the obverse of the silver coins bears a likeness of | | | | Perhaps the primary reason for the popularity of |
| Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, the | | | | the Lunar Series is the exquisite quality of the |
| reverse of the silver coins carries the image of a | | | | coins. The Perth Mint holds an uncompromising |
| German shepherd. | | | | commitment to quality, and no other mint turns |
| Perth Mint Lunar Series: Popular with coin | | | | out more beautiful coins. Established in 1899, The |
| collectors worldwide | | | | Perth Mint operated as a branch of Britain's Royal |
| The one-ounce gold coins in the Lunar Series have | | | | Mint until 1970 but now is owned by the |
| become immensely popular with coin collectors | | | | government of Western Australia. |
| worldwide for several reasons. Although the | | | | None of the silver coins in the Lunar Series have |
| theme is not unique-other mints having done lunar | | | | reached their production limits, probably because |
| series during earlier lunar cycles-timing seems to | | | | the silver coins are priced for the collector |
| be perfect for The Perth Mint Lunar Series | | | | market. The gold coins in the Series, on the other |
| because China will host the Summer Olympics in | | | | hand, are priced at about the same prices as |
| 2008, one year after the Series ends with the | | | | popular bullion coins, such as the American Gold |
| Year of the Pig. Interest in China-and anything | | | | Eagles and the Gold Maple Leafs. This means that |
| related to China-seems to be growing. By 2008, | | | | by going with Lunar Series gold coins bullion |
| we may be seeing "Chinamania," which would | | | | investors can own collectible gold coins without |
| make the Lunar Series coins still more popular. | | | | paying huge collector premiums. |
| Another reason for the strong collector interest: | | | | |