Homepage / Bullion Coins: Australian Coins / 5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver

Last Updated 07/06/2026

5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver Bullion Coin
Series I, II, & III

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2004 - Present

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In 2004, the Perth Mint added two more bullion coins to the popular Silver Lunar Series, the 1/2 kilo. and the 5 oz. bullion coins.

In 2011, the 1/2 kilo silver bullion coin was discontinued, however, the Perth Mint still produces the 5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver Bullion Coin.

Earlier-minted Australian Lunar silver bullion coins can potentially have higher premiums due to the coin's proof-like finish and limited mintage. Buying the coin in its current year of production is the best way to obtain the Australian Lunar silver bullion coin with the lowest premiums.

Further down this page, you'll find a list of reputable bullion dealers who sell the silver bullion coin.

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Design of the
5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin - Series I, II, and III

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Series I : Obverse

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The obverse side of the Australian Lunar 5 oz. Silver bullion coin displays the profile of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• • 8 DOLLARS •
  
• IRB - designer's initials below the Queen's neck

The Australian Lunar Silver Bullion Coin is a legal tender issued under the Australian Currency Act of 1965, ensuring its guarantee by the Australian Government.

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

Inscriptions:

• Year of Issue
• 5 OZ 999 SILVER
  
• 雞 - Chinese for Rooster
  

The Edge on the silver bullion coin is reeded.

Note: In 1999, the Series I Australian Lunar silver bullion coins displayed a special "P100" mint mark. It represents 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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The obverse side of the 2019 Australian Lunar Silver bullion coin displays the profile of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Inscriptions:

• ELIZABETH II
• AUSTRALIA
• 5OZ 9999 Ag
• Year of Issue
• 8 DOLLARS
• IRB - Ian Rank-Broadley's initials below the Queen's neck.
  

Note: 2018 is the first year the Lunar Silver Bullion Coins have the 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 reverse of the 2019 Series II Australian Lunar Silver Bullion coin displays a mother pig surrounded by her piglets in the grass with foliage above them, designed by Aleysha Howarth.

Inscriptions:

• 猪 - Chinese for Pig
  
• Year of the Pig
• P - the mint mark for the Perth Mint.
• AH - designer's initials on the first leaf of the tree branch, above the pigs

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

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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 Gold 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 •
• 5oz 9999 Ag
• 8 DOLLARS
  
• DT - designer David Thorne's initials under King's shoulder.

Series III - Obverse side photo 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 silver bullion coins with a new design featuring the Lunar Animal that symbolizes the corresponding year on the coin.

Note: An anti-counterfeiting authentication feature in the form of a micro-laser-engraved letter "P" is somewhere on the reverse of the coin. It is only visible through a magnifying glass.

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

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5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin Information
Series I, II, & III

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Series I:....................2004 - 2007

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

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

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

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

Face Value:...............$8 AUD (Series I; 2004 - 2007)

Face Value:...............$5 AUD (Series II; 2008 - Present)

Silver Content:..........5 troy oz.

Total Weight:............156.673 grams

Purity:.......................99.90% / 999 (2004 - 2017)

Purity:.......................99.99% / 999.9 (2018 - Present)

Diameter:..................60.30mm (Series I)

Diameter:..................65.60mm (Series II)

Diameter:..................60.60mm (Series III)

Thickness:.................7.90mm (Series I)

Thickness:.................5.80mm (Series II)

Thickness:.................7.20mm (Series III)

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

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

Obverse Designer:.....Ian Rank-Broadley (Series I & II) (2004-2019) 

Obverse Designer:.....Jody Clark (Series III) (2020-2024) 

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

Reverse Designer:.....Changes Yearly

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

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5 oz. Australian Lunar Silver
Bullion Coin - Series I, II, & III
Mintage Figures

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Series I

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

2004.....3,592......Monkey

2005.....5,585......Rooster

2006.....5,080......Dog

2007.....3,229......Pig

Series II

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

2008.....3,005.....unlimited........Mouse/Rat

2009.....4,720.....unlimited........Ox

2010.....14,553...unlimited........Tiger

2011.....8,030.....unlimited........Rabbit

2012.....31,664....unlimited.......Dragon

2013.....20,552....unlimited.......Snake

2014.....31,232....unlimited.......Horse

2015.....16,920....unlimited.......Goat

2016.....23,486....unlimited.......Monkey

2017.....19,443....unlimited.......Rooster

2018.......12,778....unlimited......Dog

2019.......9,759....unlimited.......Pig

Series III

2020.......10,393.....unlimited.......Mouse/Rat

2021.......5,838.....unlimited.......Ox

2022.......10,283.....unlimited.......Tiger

2023.......10,192.....unlimited.......Rabbit

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

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

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

TBA - to be announced

Mintage figures were last updated on 07/06/26

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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