Homepage / Bullion Coins: Australian Coins / 1/2 oz. Australian Lunar Silver

Last Updated on 04/17/2024

1/2 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin
Series I, II, & III

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1999 - Present

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Design of the
1/2 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin - Series I, II, & III

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Series I : Obverse

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The obverse displays the profile of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• •  50 CENTS  •
• IRB - Ian Rank-Broadley's initials under Queen's neck.
  

Series I - Obverse Coin photo provided courtesy of The Coin page

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Series I : Reverse

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The reverse of the lunar silver bullion coin shows an image of the animal associated with each Chinese Lunar Calendar year.

Inscriptions:

• Year of Issue
  
• 狗 - Chinese for "Dog"
• 1/2 OZ 999 SILVER
  

Note: In 1999, the Series I Australian Lunar silver bullion coins featured a unique "P100" mint mark, commemorating the Perth Mint's "100th Anniversary." It was the only Series I silver lunar coin with a mint mark.

Series I - Reverse Coin photo provided courtesy of The Coin page

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Series II : Obverse

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As with all Australian circulated and bullion coins, the obverse side of the 2019 1/2 oz. Lunar silver bullion coin features Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• 1/2OZ 9999 Ag
• Year of Issue
• 50 CENTS
• IRB - Ian Rank-Broadley's initials below the Queen's neck.

The edge of the silver bullion coin is reeded.

Note: 2018 is the first year the Australian Lunar Silver Bullion Coins have a purity of .9999 silver.

Series II - Obverse side photo provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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Series II : Reverse

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The 2019 Australian Silver Lunar bullion coin reverse features a mother pig and her piglets in grass, surrounded by foliage, designed by Alyesha Howarth.

Inscriptions:

• 猪 - Chinese for Pig
• P - mint mark for the Perth Mint
• Year of the Pig
• AH - designer's initials of the reverse side Alyesha Howarth - found on the first leaf on the branch above the pig.
  

The silver bullion coins has a Reeded Edge

Series II - Reverse side photo provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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Series III : Obverse

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The 2024 Australian Lunar Silver bullion coin features Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned from 1952-2022, wearing the Royal Diadem crown, earrings, and Victorian coronation necklace, designed by Jody Clark.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022  •
  
• AUSTRALIA
• •  1/2oz 9999 Ag
• 50 CENTS  •
  
• JC - designer's initials on Queen's shoulder
  

Series II - Obverse side photo provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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Series III : Reverse

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The reverse of the 2024 Series III Australian Lunar Silver bullion coin displays Chinese mythical dragon with stylized waves and fog, designed by Ing Ing Jong.

Inscriptions:

• 龍 - Chinese for Dragon
  
• DRAGON
  
• Year of Issue
• P125 - the mint mark for the Perth Mint's 125th Anniversary
  
• IJ - initials for the designer of the reverse side
  
• P - micro-laser-engraved security feature

Note: The micro-engraved "letter" is designed to make the bullion coin more difficult to counterfeit.

Series III - Reverse side photo provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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1/2 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin Information
Series I, II, & III

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Series I:....................1999 - 2007

Series II:...................2008 - 2019

Series III:..................2020 - Present

IRA Approved:............Yes

Coin Grade:................Uncirculated

Face Value:................50¢ AUD

Silver Content:...........1/2 troy oz.

Total Weight:.............15.573 grams

Purity:.......................99.90% / .999 (1999 - 2017)

Purity:.......................99.99% / .9999 (2018 - Present)

Diameter:..................32.10mm (Series I)

Diameter:..................36.60mm (Series II)

Diameter:..................32.60mm (Series III)

Thickness:.................3.10mm (Series I)

Thickness:.................2.30mm (Series II)

Thickness:.................2.60mm (Series III)

Mint Mark:.................Series I - No

Mint Mark:.................Series II - Yes ("P" = Perth Mint)

Mint Mark:.................Series III - Yes ("P" = Perth Mint)

Obverse Designer:.....Ian Rank-Broadley (Series I & II) (1999-2019)

Obverse Designer:.....Jody Clark (Series III) (2020-2023)

Obverse Designer:.....Dan Thorne (Series III) (2024 - Present)

Reverse Designer:.....Changes Yearly

Edge:.......................Reeded

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1/2 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin Series I, II & III
Mintage Figures:

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Series I

Year.....Sales......Mintage.......Lunar Animal

1999....16,913.....500,000........Rabbit

2000....52,956.....500,000........Dragon

2001....30,904.....500,000........Snake

2002....42,824.....500,000........Horse

2003....51,776.....500,000........Goat

2004....52,792.....500,000........Monkey

2005....37,994.....500,000........Rooster

2006....39,361.....500,000........Dog

2007....32,495.....500,000........Pig

Series II

Year.....Sales......Mintage.......Lunar Animal

2008....17,114.....unlimited.......Mouse

2009....17,674.....unlimited.......Ox

2010....50,035.....unlimited.......Tiger

2011....124,488...unlimited.......Rabbit

2012....389,161...unlimited.......Dragon

2013....160,616...unlimited.......Snake

2014....249,155...unlimited.......Horse

2015....188,442...unlimited.......Goat

2016....233,615...unlimited.......Monkey

2017....177,793...unlimited.......Rooster

2018....116,289...unlimited.......Dog

2019....88,726...unlimited.......Pig

Series III

2020....87,922.....unlimited.......Mouse

2021.....88,197.....unlimited.......Ox

2022.....77,205.....unlimited.......Tiger

2023...........TBA.....unlimited.......Rabbit

2024...........TBA.....unlimited.......Dragon

TBA - to be announced

Mintage figures were last updated on 03/07/23....We are waiting on the Perth Mint to update their mintage figures.

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