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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) (1998-2019)

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/Rat

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/Rat

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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