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Last Updated on 08/17/2024

1/4 oz. Australian Lunar Gold Bullion Coin
Series I, II, and III

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1996 - Present

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Design of the
1/4 oz. Australian Lunar Gold
Bullion Coin - Series I, II, and III

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Series I : Obverse

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The obverse displays the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Raphael David Maklouf.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• • 25 DOLLARS •
• RDM - initials of designer Raphael David Maklouf found under Queen's shoulder.

Series I : Obverse Coin photos provided courtesy of Walmart

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Series I : Reverse

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

Inscriptions:

• Year of Issue
• 虎 - Chinese symbol for Tiger
  
• 1/4 OZ 9999 GOLD
  

The Edge of the gold bullion coin is reeded.

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

Series I : Reverse Coin photos provided courtesy of Walmart

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Series II : Obverse

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

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• 1/4OZ 9999 GOLD
• Year of Issue
• 25 DOLLARS
• IRB - initials of designer Ian Rank-Broadley found under Queen's neck.
  

Series II : Obverse Coin photos provided courtesy of SD Bullion

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Series II : Reverse

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The centerpiece of the 2018 Series II Lunar Gold bullion coin is the Lunar Dog, featuring a Labrador Retriever standing on rocks with a stylized pine tree in the background, designed by Ing Ing Jong. 

Inscriptions:

• 狗 - Chinese symbol for Dog
• P - mint mark for the Perth Mint
• Year of the Dog
• IJ - initials for the designer of the reverse side (Ing Ing Jong)

The Edge on the gold bullion coin is reeded.

Series II : Reverse Coin photos provided courtesy of SD Bullion

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Series III : Obverse

A subtle difference occurs on British Commonwealth coins when a monarch passes away. The new monarch's profile changes direction from that of the previous leader of the kingdom.

On the Australian Lunar coins issued in 2024 and previous years, the late Queen Elizabeth II is depicted facing right. In contrast, the current coin features the new King of England, Charles III, facing left.

Switching the direction a monarch faces on British Commonwealth coinage is a tradition that dates back to the 17th century for the British Royal Family.

Note: Inscribed at the top of the 2024's Australian Lunar bullion coin's obverse side shows the the dates 1952-2022, which represents the duration of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.  The 2024 coin features the final design of Queen Elizabeth II used on Australian coins, created by Jody Clark.

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The effigy of His Majesty King Charles III is the centerpiece of the obverse side of all Australian bullion coins, designed by David Thorne.

Inscriptions:

• • CHARLES III
• AUSTRALIA  •
• 1/4oz 9999 Au
• 25 DOLLARS
• DT - initials of designer David Thorne found under King's shoulder. 

The Edge on the silver bullion coin is reeded.

Series III : Obverse Coin photos provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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Series III : Reverse

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Each year, the Perth Mint updates the Australian Lunar gold bullion coins with a new design featuring the Lunar Animal that symbolizes the corresponding year on the coin. 

Inscriptions:

• 馬 - Chinese Symbol for Horse
• HORSE
• Year of Issue
• P - the mint mark of the Perth Mint
• IJ - initials for the designer of the reverse side (Ing Ing Jong)

The Edge of the gold bullion coin is reeded.

Series III : Reverse Coin photos provided courtesy of The Perth Mint

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1/4 oz. Australian Lunar Gold
Bullion Coin Information
Series I, II, & III

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Series I :....................1996 - 2007

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

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

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

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

Face Value:................$25 AUD

Gold Content:.............1/4 troy oz.

Total Weight:.............7.777 grams

Purity:.......................99.99% (per cent) / 999.9 (per mille)

Karat:........................24 karat

Diameter:..................20.10 mm (Series I)

Diameter:..................22.60 mm (Series II)

Diameter:..................20.60 mm (Series III)

Thickness:.................2.00 mm (Series I)

Thickness:.................2.20 mm (Series II)

Thickness:.................2.00 mm (Series III)

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

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

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

Obverse Designer:.....Raphael David Maklouf (Series I) (1996-1998)

Obverse Designer:.....Ian Rank-Broadley (Series I & II) (1999-2018)

Obverse Designer:.....Jody Clark (Series III) (2019 - 2024)

Obverse Designer:.....David Thorne (Series III) (2025 - Present)

Reverse Designer:.....Changes Yearly

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

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1/4 oz. Australian Lunar Gold Coin 
Bullion Series I, II, & III
Mintage Figures

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Series I

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

1996....1,390......60,000........Mouse

1997....2,904......60,000........Ox

1998....5,683......60,000........Tiger

1999....5,893......60,000........Rabbit

2000....20,148.....60,000........Dragon

2001....8,436......60,000........Snake

2002....10,187.....60,000........Horse

2003....8,479......60,000........Goat

2004....7,284......60,000........Monkey

2005....6,450......60,000........Rooster

2006....6,009......60,000........Dog

2007....6,486......60,000........Pig

Series II

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

2008....5,541......unlimited.......Mouse

2009....7,750......unlimited.......Ox

2010....11,771....unlimited.......Tiger

2011....11,101....unlimited.......Rabbit

2012....18,620....unlimited.......Dragon

2013....16,159....unlimited.......Snake

2014....18,621....unlimited.......Horse

2015....13,650....unlimited.......Goat

2016....12,833....unlimited.......Monkey

2017....13,440....unlimited.......Rooster

2018....12,744.....unlimited.......Dog

2019....13,052......unlimited.......Pig

Series III

2020.....10,766......unlimited.......Mouse/Rat

2021.....18,361......unlimited.......Ox

2022.....30,478......unlimited.......Tiger

2023.....24,256......unlimited.......Rabbit

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

2025.....TBA......unlimited.......Snake

2026.....TBA......unlimited.......Horse

TBA - to be announced

Mintage figures were last updated on 08/11/2026

The Perth Mint has updated its mintage figures only up to 2023, and it is expected to provide further updates on these numbers.

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