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Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Proof Coins Released

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Recent posts on the Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Proof Coins:




The Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Proof Coins were released today. I expect the Silver Three-Coin Set & 1oz Silver Proof to be the fastest sellers, but some of the other sizes may also be a hot commodity.

The Silver Three-Coin set was unavailable within around 10 minutes on the site after launch, but expect that more may be released in the morning, so keep alert!

Here is some direct links to the products that have been released today:

The Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Silver Proof Coins from The Perth Mint, features:

- Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
- Stunning Horse Reverse Design
- Australian Legal Tender
- Elegant Packaging and Numbered Certificates
- Available in 1 Kilo, 1oz, 1/2oz and a Three-Coin Set
- Extremely Limited Mintages
- Great Gift Ideas

Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1 Kilo Silver Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Silver Three-Coin Set


The 2014 silver releases are available as individual 1 Kilo, 1oz and 1/2oz coins, or in a stunning three-coin set comprising a 2oz, 1oz and 1/2oz coin.

No more than 500 Kilo coins will be released worldwide. An issue limit of 8,000 1/2oz coins and 5,000 1oz coins released from each maximum mintage of 9,000 and 8,500 respectively. There will be no more than 1,000 Three-Coin Sets released. The 2oz coin within the Three-Coin Set has a maximum mintage of 2,000.


The Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Gold Proof Coins from The Perth Mint, features:

- Proof Quality 99.99% Pure Gold
- Stunning Horse Reverse Design
- Australian Legal Tender
- Elegant Packaging and Numbered Certificates
- Available in 1oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz and a Three-Coin Set
- Extremely Limited Mintages
- Great Gift Ideas

Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1/10oz Gold Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1/4oz Gold Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Gold Proof Coin
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Gold Three-Coin Set


The 2014 gold releases are available as individual 1oz, 1/4oz and 1/10oz coins, or in a stunning three-coin set comprising all three issues.
Extremely Limited Mintages

No more than 3,000 individual 1oz coins and 5,000 individual 1/4oz and 1/10oz coins will be released from their maximum mintages of 6,000 and 8,000 respectively. The remaining 3,000 coins in each size are compiled to create the Three-Coin Set.

------------------------------
I sought clarification on the 2oz Silver Proof Coin given that it wasn't released with the other proof coins and had some email queries, this was the answer provided by the Perth Mint:

"All those who purchased the Australian Lunar Series II 2oz Silver Proof Coin Collection (with the first six coins) will receive a letter / email inviting them to secure the 2014 Year of the Horse release. These notifications will be sent out by the Mint in November. It will include details of how long their coin will be reserved and the final order date should they wish to proceed."

So no need to worry camping on the refresh button if you've purchased one of the sets!


If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:
 

The Perth Mint Australia

Perth Mint Lunar 2014 Year of the Horse Coins - Coloured, Gilded & Gemstone

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For those waiting on the more decorative proof lunar horse coins from Perth  Mint, you may be pleased to know that some are due to be released next month.



Hit the link above for a list of all the Perth Mint (numismatic) coin releases coming in October. As previously mentioned in this post detailing Perth Mint release dates, the rest of the bullion coins are also due to become available on October 1st:

2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Silver Bullion Coin Series (5oz, 10oz & 1 kilo)

Also if you bought the Australian Lunar Series II 2oz Silver Proof Coin Collection last year and you're worried because the 2oz Horse wasn't released with the other proof coins yesterday or that you would have to fight with other coin buyers to complete the collection, fear not! I followed this up with Perth Mint after a couple of readers emailed and commented asking if I knew anything about it, the response was as follows:

"All those who purchased the Australian Lunar Series II 2oz Silver Proof Coin Collection (with the first six coins) will receive a letter / email inviting them to secure the 2014 Year of the Horse release. These notifications will be sent out by the Mint in November. It will include details of how long their coin will be reserved and the final order date should they wish to proceed."

Good news that those who have started the collection will be able to complete it without hassle.


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The Perth Mint Australia

2014 Macau Lunar Horse Gold & Silver Proof Coins with Colour

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One of the last 2014 Lunar Horse Coin releases I have been anticipating showed up online today. The 2014 Macau Horse Gold & Silver Proof Coins are now available to order from Singapore Mint.

A great set of coins visually. The 5oz Silver coin is being sold by ballot and has seen a large increase in the number minted relative to last year given the high demand. The mintage on the 1oz Silver and 1/4oz Gold coins has also been bumped up (but not nearly to the extent of the 5oz). All have increased substantially in price from last year even though we've seen a drop in the spot price of Silver.

The description provided for the design reads as follows:
In conjunction with the 2014 Lunar Horse year, the Monetary Authority of Macau issues the Macau Horse coin which is the seventh in the Macau Lunar coin collection (2008- 2019), exclusively minted and marketed by The Singapore Mint.

The magnificent horse is illustrated in an awe-inspiring pose on the obverse side of the coin: rearing on its hind legs, seemingly at the brink of take-off. This burst of vigor and forward-looking spirit hints at the beginning of many good things to come, in your career or life.

The horse is accompanied by a cascade of alluring camellia flowers in full bloom. They come in many vibrant colours and just like the horse’s unyielding resilience, these flowers flourish even in cold weathers; upholding brilliance no matter the circumstance.

The coin’s reverse side embodies the carvings of the Guia Fortress – in commemoration of Macau’s maritime, military and missionary past. The fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a popular tourist attraction of Macau.
Here are some further details for the three coins available:

2014 Macau Horse 5oz 999 Fine Silver Proof Coin with colour

 
Mintage: 2000 (up from 500 last year)
Issue Date: October 31st, 2013
Retail Price: S$950 (AUD$815), increase from S$780 last year

Macau Horse 1oz 999 Fine Silver Proof Coin with colour

Mintage: 8000 (up from 6000 last year)
Issue Date: October 31st, 2013
Retail Price: S$158.00 (AUD$135), increase from S$138 last year

2014 Macau Horse 1/4oz 999.9 Fine Gold Proof Coin with colour

Mintage: 5000 (up from 3000 last year)
Issue Date: October 31st, 2013
Retail Price: S$970 (AUD$830), increase from S$860 last year

A reader of the blog 'LAB' provided these photos some time ago showing some of the Macau Lunar Series Coins in the flesh:



The increase in mintage and cost is rather opportunistic of the mint, hopefully it does not turn off buyers. See the website of the Singapore Mint for further details.
For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:



If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:
 

The Perth Mint Australia

Perth Mint Lunar Horse Coins - Secondary Market & New Releases (Typeset Collection)

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Just a quick update on the progress of my prediction:
In my opinion the Perth Mint 2014 Year of the Horse Three-Coin Set will hit a price of around $525 shortly after sold out at the Perth Mint (i.e. on the secondary market) and the 2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Proof Coin I expect to see at $150-175. That's a total of $675-700 with a cost to purchase that I am expecting at or near $435 total...
Prices on the 2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Proof Coin have reached levels around $120-140:


So still a little way to go if they are to hit my expected $150-175.

Likewise the 2014 Year of the Horse Three-Coin Set has some way to go to reach $525 with recent sales indicating a price level around or just below $500:


I still think there is a chance my targets will be met in the not too distant future. Unfortunately I missed out on buying both from the Perth Mint as they sold out very quickly. The 1/2oz & Kilo Silver Proof Coins are still available from the Perth Mint.

As I wrote in a recent post, there are a number of new lunar coin releases which will hit the Perth Mint website tonight:


And also (added since my original post):


I don't expect any of these will perform as well as the standard 1oz & Three Coin Set, however the Typeset Collection is usually fast to sellout (due to it's limited 1,500 set mintage) and the coloured proof 1oz coins have often proven popular on release.

Not lunar coin related, but the 'Endangered & Extinct - Green Turtle 2014 1oz Silver Proof Coin' is now available on the Perth Mint website. It's a great looking coin if you ask me and some of the previous releases in this series have achieved a high premium over release price (particularly the Tasmanian Tiger!):


For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:

If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:
 

The Perth Mint Australia

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coloured Ten-Coin Set & Other Forthcoming Lunar Releases

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The following Perth Mint lunar coins are being released on November 5th:


The first to catch my eye was the Ten-Coin Sets (in both Gold and Silver). It is my opinion that that these will be the square sets that I mentioned in a post some months ago:


Here is the description for a Gold version of the square coins:
2014 Gold Year of the Horse - Square Bullion Coin
The design on the 2014 Gold Year of the Horse (1/10oz) gold bullion coin, consists of a
coloured representation of a horse superimposed over stylised ground with a horizon and a stylised cloud, and the following:
(a) the pinyin pictograph pronounced “mă” and meaning “horse”;
(b) “P”
Here is the description for a Silver version of the square coins:
2014 Silver Year of the Horse - Square Bullion Coin
The design on the 2014 Silver Year of the Horse (1oz) silver bullion coin, consists of the
following:
(a) a coloured representation of a horse;
(b) a coloured representation of a Chinese stamp that is made up of a square border which encloses the pinyin pictographs pronounced “qían lóng yù lăn zhī băo” and meaning “stamp of Emperor Qíanlóng”;
(c) a coloured representation of a Chinese stamp that is made up of a square border which encloses the pinyin pictographs pronounced “tài shàng huáng dì zhī băo” and meaning “stamp of Emperor Yōngzhèng”;
(d) the pinyin pictographs pronounced:
(i) “Dà Wăn Liū” which is the name of the horse with no English equivalent; and
(ii) “qían lóng wù chén mèng chūn haĭ xī chēn láng shì níng gōng shū” and meaning “Painted by Minister Lang Shining in early spring of the 13th year from the ascension of Emperor Qíanlóng”;
(e) “P”
A sharp eyed Silver Stackers member appears to have sourced a photo of the Ten-Coin Silver square coin set:

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coloured Ten-Coin (Square) Set

I believe this is the set that will be released on November 5th (and may already be selling in China). It seems unlikely the Perth Mint would release two different Ten-Coin sets in colour, one round and the other square. There was no such set for the 2013 snake, but there was a 2012 Ten-Coin Dragon Set released as covered on this blog (round coins), it now sells on ebay for well under the issue price.

Of the other forthcoming releases:

The Rectangle Four-Coin Set is unlikely to be very popular.
The High Relief Lunar Horse coin may be popular, but not as much so as the standard proof coin (on ebay the high relief dragon regularly sells over issue price, the high relief snake regularly sells under issue price).
The 2013 High Relief collection is likely to include the high relief snake.

I've made it no secret on this forum that I am a fan of the Perth Mint high relief coins, although only buy them as collection pieces rather than to profit from them.

For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:


If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:
 

The Perth Mint Australia

SOLD: Perth Mint 2000 Lunar 'Year of the Dragon' Gold Proof Three-Coin Set (1oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz)

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This set has now been sold, but will leave the post up so that others can enjoy the images.

---------------------------------------------------

I have the following set for sale:

Perth Mint 2000 Lunar 'Year of the Dragon' Gold Proof Three-Coin Set (1oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz).

With a mintage of only 2,886 sold & sporting the popular dragon design, this 14 year old set is highly desired by lunar coin collectors & investors alike. The set contains the sought after 1oz Proof Gold Dragon which was sold only in a couple of very limited sets (including this one), not individually.

COA Numbers is #538. The COA is slightly creased & there are a couple of tiny nicks on the original Jarrah presentation case (barely noticeable and to be expected for a set of this age), but otherwise the set is in perfect original condition.

There is one of these sets available on ebay starting at A$4000 (not a BIN price):


The 2012 set was sold by Perth Mint for $3689:


I am inviting offers for the set. Please use the contact page on this site, reply via email (if receiving this update via subscription) or contact me through Silver Stackers if you are interested in making an offer.

Photos below are for the actual set you will receive. The specs on the coins are just dust particles or reflections. Coins themselves are in original condition. Click on any of the below images to enlarge.






If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:

The Perth Mint Australia

2015 Year of the Goat Coins (Lunar Series) from Perth Mint (Gold/Silver)

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2003 Perth Mint Year of the Goat Lunar Gold Coin
We are probably still 6-7 months away from the launch of the 2015 'Year of the Goat' Lunar Series Coin from Perth Mint, but thought I would share the descriptions for the two bullion designs (Gold & Silver) that will be available to purchase later this year. Here is a preview of what we can expect (my emphasis on the design descriptions):

2015 Gold Year of the Goat - Bullion Coins

The design on the 2015 Gold Year of the Goat (10kg, 1kg, 10oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz, 1/20oz) bullion coins, consists of a pattern of lines forming a circle immediately inside the rim, surrounding a representation of a goat, and a landscape featuring rocky ground, grass and stylised mountains in the background. The coins include the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Goat’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘yáng’ and meaning ‘goat’ and the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl ‘NM’.

2015 Silver Year of the Goat - Bullion Coins

The design on the 2015 Silver Year of the Goat (10kg, 1kg, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz) bullion coins, consists of a pattern of lines forming a circle immediately inside the rim, surrounding a representation of three goats, and a landscape featuring grass and leafy trees. The coins include the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Goat’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘yáng’ and meaning ‘goat’ and the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl ‘NM’.

I didn't spot any surprises in the lineup, with details for the gilded, coloured, gem eye and other types being described much as above (retaining the same basic design) with their various slight differences.

The designer of the lunar goat coins for Perth Mint, Natasha Muhl, previously designed the entire 'Birds of Australia' collection:

Click The Image To Visit Perth Mint Product Page
Along with the above coins she also designed the Platinum Australian Platypus Coin, Silver Discover Australia Red Kangaroo& Silver 2013 Australian Kookaburra:


If we are being honest, the goat is probably one of the least exciting animals in several years having been preceded by the Dragon, Snake & Horse, however I am interested to see what Perth Mint comes up with and do also hope that some of the speculative interest from the many other mints & dealers who have followed in the footsteps of Perth Mint dies down a little bit. The number of interested parties trying to cash in on the lunar designs was a little overwhelming this year and last with the release of many new horse coins.

We can expect images of the coins to be available a few days before their release, likely to be in early September (I would recommend subscribing by email to this site to ensure you are kept up to date).

'The Australian Stock Horse 2014 1oz Silver Coin' To Be Released By Perth Mint In April

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So I noticed 'The Australian Stock Horse 2014 1oz Silver Coin' is in the lineup on April's Perth Mint Forthcoming Releases page, amongst some other coins (no new lunar coins, unless the lineup changes):


Long term readers of the blog will likely be interested by this news. I tipped the first coin in the series (released in mid 2013) as a speculative buy and expected it to sellout within 24-48 hours (specifically the limited edition carded variety available through the Perth Mint website to Australian residents only). Here is photo of the previous release (there aren't yet any images available of the 2014 coin):

Australian Stock Horse 1oz Silver Coin, photo via Chris Silver

The standard bullion coin which was first sold by many dealers around the A$45-50 mark, before realising they had a winner on their hands and jacked up the prices, now sells for up to double that price on ebay. Likewise, the rarer carded version (only 1,000 released in that particular packaging) is also still selling around double the issue price of A$59 (circa $100-130 now on ebay).

While I can't yet provide a picture of the 2014 release in this series, I can share a description of the coin which gives us an idea on what to expect:

2014 Australian Stock Horse - Silver Bullion Coin

The design on the 2014 Australian Stock Horse (1oz) silver bullion coin, consists of a representation of a horse superimposed over a landscape of fencing, grass and foliage. The coin includes the following inscriptions ‘AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE’, ‘2014 1oz  999 SILVER’, and the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong (IJ).

It is also worth noting that there has been an application for a 5 ounce Gold proof version of the coin:

2014 Australian Stock Horse – Gold Proof Coin

The design on the 2014 Australian Stock Horse (5oz) gold proof coin, consists of a representation of a horse superimposed over a landscape of fencing, grass and foliage. The coin includes the following inscriptions ‘AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE’, ‘2014 5oz  9999 GOLD’, and the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong (IJ).

What a monster!

There is no guarantee the 5 ounce Gold proof version of the coin is released for sale through the Perth Mint (or at all), but assuming that they do it's likely to be a very limited release.

I presume they will retain the status quo for the silver version of the coin with a 9,000 coin release (just capsule & numbered COA), while keeping aside 1,000 for a carded release (which last year, as predicted, sold out within a day). They could of course change this, the series is not a Perth Mint original, it has been commissioned by a dealer, but they would be silly to mess with the winning formula after last years success in my opinion.

I will be watching for the release of this coin and if the opportunity arises I will be buying multiple, but I suspect Perth Mint will restrict sales. I'm not sure it will perform as well as the previous coin (quickly doubling in value), but I think the potential is there if the design is a winner.

I would recommend subscribing by email to this site to ensure you are kept up to date. I am not sure if I will have any further information to share on the coins release prior to launch, but will keep readers up to date on anything I hear.


New 2014 Carded Silver 1oz Australian Stock Horse Coin Released By Perth Mint

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THE AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE 2014 1OZ SILVER COIN

As I pointed out on the blog recently (advised release on April 1st), the Perth Mint has released the next coin in the 'Australian Stock Horse Series'. The first coin in the series was released in 2013 and was a big hit with coin punters and collectors alike.
The standard bullion coin which was first sold by many dealers around the A$45-50 mark, before realising they had a winner on their hands and jacked up the prices, now sells for up to double that price on ebay. Likewise, the rarer carded version (only 1,000 released in that particular packaging) is also still selling around double the issue price of A$59 (circa $100-130 now on ebay). Bullion Baron
This time around the standard bullion coin has not been made available prior to the Perth Mint carded release which kept to the same formula (1,000 coins in the carded packaging & $59 price point) as I expected:
I presume they will retain the status quo for the silver version of the coin with a 9,000 coin release (just capsule & numbered COA), while keeping aside 1,000 for a carded release (which last year, as predicted, sold out within a day). They could of course change this, the series is not a Perth Mint original, it has been commissioned by a dealer, but they would be silly to mess with the winning formula after last years success in my opinion.

I will be watching for the release of this coin and if the opportunity arises I will be buying multiple, but I suspect Perth Mint will restrict sales. I'm not sure it will perform as well as the previous coin (quickly doubling in value), but I think the potential is there if the design is a winner. Bullion Baron
I'm not sure when the standard coin (which comes in capsule with numbered COA) will be made available by overseas dealers (supposedly the series has been commissioned by EMK in Germany), but until it is available we may see an even more intense scramble for the carded variety which are available directly from Perth Mint.

I was online just minutes ago as the coin went live (bought a bundle of them myself) and the 400 added to the site were sold out in around 10 minutes. See the product page below:

THE AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE 2014 1OZ SILVER COIN (Latest Release Page)

It's likely some more will be added to the site in the morning, so keep your eyes peeled around opening time of the Perth Mint.


THE CARDED AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE 2014 1OZ SILVER COIN

I expect this coin will soon be attracting healthy premiums to issue price on secondary markets, it will be interesting to see whether prices achieved match that of the first coin which made sales at $130-150 shortly after release.

I would recommend subscribing by email to Silver Lunar to ensure you are kept up to date. I try to keep readers updated with interesting Lunar & other coin releases that I think will rise in value.

Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Proof & 5oz High Relief Silver Proof Coins (2014) From Perth Mint

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There are no lunar coin releases in this months lineup from the Perth Mint, however noticed some additional Wedge-Tailed Eagle coins that are worth mentioning. Specifically the following coins are listed on the 'Forthcoming Releases' page on the Perth Mint website:

Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 2014 1oz & 5oz Silver Proof Coins

I received the flier for these last week (which I will post in full down below). It shows the following coins will be released come May 6th (from 12.01AM AWST):

5oz Silver Proof High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coin (A$485)
1oz Silver Proof Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coin (A$99)

For those in the USA the coins have been available to order from GovMint for some time already.

These releases follow on from the previously released 'Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 2014 1oz Silver Proof High Relief Coin' (10,000 coin mintage) & 'Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 2014 1oz Gold Proof High Relief Coin' (1,000 coin mintage).

The silver high relief coin is already achieving significant premiums to release price, selling on ebay regularly for upwards of A$150 and up to A$230. This seems to stem from interest due to a stunning image which was designed by a former Chief US Mint Engraver as previously covered on the Perth Mint's Coin Collector Blog:
In a major development that will have profound significance for numismatists on two continents, The Perth Mint is delighted to announce that the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint has created the magnificent reverse for our new Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle gold and silver high-relief proofs.

One of America’s most respected coin sculptor-engravers, John Mercanti joined the U.S. Mint in 1974, holding the position of Chief Engraver from 2006 until his retirement in 2010. His achievements are remarkable – with the coin and medal design process traditionally a competition between members of the in-house team, John is responsible for more successful designs than any other employee in the history of the U.S. Mint.

Among them is the American Eagle silver coin, first issued in 1986. Featuring John’s re-interpretation of ‘Walking Liberty’ and a stunning heraldic eagle on the reverse, “the coin that started it all” was a landmark release in U.S. history.
It will be interesting to see whether the standard 1oz silver proof or 5oz high relief silver proof are able to repeat the price performance of the 1oz high relief silver proof... my thoughts are that the 1oz coin may well do (I am already seeing sales on ebay.com.au at $150 before it's officially released on the Perth Mint website), due to the smaller mintage (5,000 vs 10,000 for the high relief coin). Although the 5oz high relief coin is likely to be stunning, I think the higher price point will reduce the level of interest. As I have pointed out in the past, many of the 5oz proof coins (including those in the lunar series) have failed to increase substantially in price. My thought here is that Perth Mint should lower the price point on the 5oz coins (perhaps a price around $350 would make it more affordable for a larger number of collectors and speculators).

1oz Silver Proof Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coin &
5oz Silver Proof High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coin


Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Gods of Olympus – Poseidon 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin From Perth Mint

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Gods of Olympus – Poseidon 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin
No lunar coins in the forthcoming releases about to be launched by Perth Mint, although they did release a commissioned horse themed set a few days ago which appears to have quickly sold out 'Horses of Lore and Legend 2014 1oz Silver Proof Three-Coin Set'.

Coming up is the Poseidon 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin from the Gods of Olympus series.


This coin will be in addition to the 'Gods of Olympus – Zeus 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin' which was released in February and the 'Gods of Olympus – Hades 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin' which is due in the near future (presumably later this year).

Gods of Olympus – Zeus 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin
I had speculated that the Zeus coin would be a hit (suggesting a quick rise to $300+) on the morning of it's release after seeing the design and product specifications, citing the following reasons in a thread on Silver Stackers:

  • Low mintage
  • Copying the style of some of those popular coins coming out of Europe that start with ridiculous price tags
  • First of it's type by Perth Mint
  • First in the series
  • Custom display case (unusual for Perth Mint, but a step in the right direction!)
They were selling hot on the morning and I was too slow to checkout the 5 I tried to buy. Within days they had doubled in value on secondary markets such as ebay, selling for A$350-400+ after launching at $179. I don't think Perth Mint had anticipated the demand for the coin, but they have since announced they will be limiting sales on the new coin to one per customer:
The Perth Mint is reversing its previously stated position and will now restrict the number of Poseidon 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coins to one per existing retail customer.

In recent days it has become increasingly clear that this coin, which has a maximum mintage of just 1,500, will be highly sought-after.

Unauthorised publication of a Poseidon coin image at the weekend increased enquiries at the Mint today with collectors expressing concern they could miss out if purchases remained unrestricted.

Under the one-per-customer policy, we are confident that more collectors will now get the opportunity to purchase the coin at issue price from the Mint.

The Poseidon 2014 2oz Silver High Relief Coin will be available on The Perth Mint website from 12.01am 3 June 2014 (AWST).
This is probably a fair policy to adopt to ensure collectors have the best opportunity to purchase the coin, but will reduce the ability to speculate on the coin, especially given that it means no free shipping (Perth Mint currently offers this worldwide for orders over $400) unless you intend on purchasing other coins.

In my opinion the high relief, rimless design with an antique finish is a winner and it reminds me of the success of the 'Mongolian Wildlife Protection series' which included popular designs such as the Hedge Hog, Owl & Wolverine:


Though I think Perth Mint will need to take more care in the production and finish of the coins going forward as some owners had reported scratches and dents were present on the back of the Zeus coins, presumably occurring during the antiquing process.

No further news on the 2015 Year of the Goat Coins (Lunar Series II) from Perth Mint yet, but I will be keeping my eyes peeled and will update the blog with information as it comes to hand.



Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins (Year of the Goat)

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Almost 1 year to the day after my post on the 'Tokelau 2014 Lunar Horse 1oz Silver Coin', images of the Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins have surfaced (via AgAuNEWS). This will be the third coin in this particular series, starting two years ago with the lunar snake. The coin is soon likely to be available for pre-order through Modern Coin Mart, the 2014 lunar horse was listed last year for pre-order in June and started shipping in July.

Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat Silver Coin
The design looks nice enough, but I worry that the soft look to their hair won't translate well on the finished product... it is one of the most difficult features of an animal to portray in the hard metal finish of a silver coin. Take for example the Perth Mint Koala Series, most of the images that the coin design is based on are fantastic on paper, but their fur can look much different on the coin itself:

2012 Perth Mint Silver Koala Coin
I will be interested to see an actual photo of the Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat Silver Coins to see how well they pull off the hair. The coloured & gilded variants look good too.


The reverse proof finish will have a mintage of 50,000, a further 2,500 in proof, 1,000 gilded, 1,000 coloured and 2,000 in an antique finish.

It's still 8 months until the Year of the Goat begins in early 2015, but coin releases are likely to heat up well in advance of that over the new few months. I will be covering as many as I can on this site, I'd recommend hitting the link below to subscribe to email updates if lunar coin series interest you.



Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Bullion Baron's 2014 Kangaroo 1 Gram Silver Card

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A little off topic for this primarily lunar coin site, but on my main website 'BullionBaron.com' I have announced a new silver product that may interest collectors in the precious metals space. Pictured below is the 2014 Kangaroo 1 Gram Silver Card:


It is a very limited edition and any profits from it's sale that I receive will be donated to charity, please click here for more information (links to post on my main website) or click here to purchase (product page).


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Niue Island 2015 Year of the Goat 5oz Silver Lunar Proof Gold Plated Coin - Sneak Peek

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Here is a sneak peek of the Niue Island 2015 Year of the Goat 5oz Silver Lunar Proof Gold Plated Coin.

You may remember the release last year of the first coin in this new 5oz silver lunar coin series from Downies:


I can't tell you much more at this stage, but appears the series is set to continue, with this thumbnail sized image popping up on the artists website:

Niue Island 2015 Year of the Goat 5oz Silver Lunar Proof Gold Plated Coin
From the image we can see it retains it's 5oz Silver size and Niue Island legal tender status, presumably it's still being minted by PAMP, but whether it retains the maximum 500 coin mintage is not yet known. The horse was released around mid July last year, so further details should be available soon.

For other 2015 Lunar Goat Coin Series news, see the following articles:



And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Goat Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin $2 Tokelau 2015

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I see the first 2015 Lunar Goat coin has made it's way onto the Power Coin site, that being the release of the 'Goat Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin $2 Tokelau 2015':

Goat Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin $2 Tokelau 2015
I wouldn't say the image on this coin appeals to me much and it's not particularly cheap at €99.95, however everyone has different tastes and I must admit I do like the slick packaging:


The Power Coin product page includes the following product description:
This particular oval coin celebrates the Year of the Goat. Minted from one ounce of .999 fine silver, total mintage worldwide was limited to 2.015 pieces. Comes with a beautiful presentation case and a Certificate of Authenticity.
And blurb on the Year of the Goat:
The goat ranks the eighth of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac. People born in the year of the goat are mild mannered, pessimistic, shy, and sympathetic. Personality traits, such as creativity, dependability, intelligence, and calmness make them very charming to be with. They are more comfortable when left alone or stay at home.

Though they love to be in groups, they do not want to be the center of attention. They are reserved and quiet, most likely because they like spending much time in their thoughts. Goats like to spend money on fashionable things that give them a first class appearance. Although goats enjoy spending money on the finer things in life, they are not snobbish.
For other 2015 Lunar Goat Coin Series news, see the following articles:



And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

2015 Plenty Year of the Goat - Niue Island

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Here is an interesting new Year of the Goat coin (if you could call it that) being released. I spotted it on site MOWOCO (short for Modern World Coins). It appears to be a new series (at least I don't recall seeing a similar horse design last year). Edit: On further investigation, this may be a continuation of this irregularly shaped Lunar Horse coin from 2014, which has the same weight, is also minted in sterling Silver, but has a higher mintage than the goat.

It is minted from sterling Silver, weighing 28.28 grams and has a mintage of 5,000. Proof quality and with a face value of $1.

The pre-order price is listed as Rs 8,500 (roughly AUD $150) and rising to Rs 10,000 (A$175) once they close.
Description on the site says:
The Chinese zodiac is a twelve-year cycle in which each year is associated with a specific animal. Those born during the year of a certain animal were thought to share some of the qualities of that animal. The twelve animals in order are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, pig.2015 is the year of the goat. Reverse: On the coin with the irregular shape a head of a goat with gold printed horn. Inscription: “PLENTY YEAR OF THE GOAT”. Obverse: Effigy of Elizabeth II, inscriptions: “Elizabeth II”, “Niue Island”, “2015”, hallmark “Ag 925”and 1 dollar”. In the centre of the coin a horn of plenty filled with different fruits.
Images of the coin are below:




Also, just a quick follow up on the previously covered 'Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins', I spotted this YouTube clip in the wild, which may interest some readers... it's probably one of the first videos (if not THE first) of real life 2015 Lunar Goat coins.


For other 2015 Lunar Goat Coin Series news, see the following articles:

Goat Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin $2 Tokelau 2015



And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers


Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

Perth Mint 2015 Lunar Goat Coin Launch Draws Near

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Perth Mint 2003 Year of the Goat Lunar Silver 1oz Coin

We are only 1 month away from Perth Mint launching their 2015 Year of the Goat Lunar Coins. Arguably the most sought after of all lunar releases.
 
Public images may only be available from the day of the launch, but if you read my post from several months ago you would be aware the description of the designs are as follows:
 
Perth Mint 2015 Australian Lunar – Year of the Goat Gold Coin design
 
"...a representation of a goat, and a landscape featuring rocky ground, grass and stylised mountains in the background."
 
Perth Mint 2015 Australian Lunar – Year of the Goat Silver Coin design
 
"...a representation of three goats, and a landscape featuring grass and leafy trees."
 
The Perth Mint will be releasing the new bullion lunar coins (along with other 2015 bullion series coins) on September 1st, 2014.
 
The numismatic coins, such as the proof series will be released the following morning, September 2nd, 2014.
 
For those in Perth or anyone who can make it to Perth for the release date I'd highly recommend attending the Silver Stackers exclusive launch event which includes early entry to the Perth Mint and an exclusive presentation, this year including a Gold pour. You can view the details in the thread -> Click Here (you need to register your interest in attending & provide your details and I suggest you do so ASAP if interested).
 
I made it to one of these events a couple of years ago (for the 2013 Lunar Snake), which you can read about here.
 
I think demand for these Perth Mint coins could set the sentiment for how well other 2015 lunar goat coins will sell in general this year and next. It's not the most exciting animal (compared with a dragon, snake or horse for example), but looking back at Perth Mint's Series 1 bullion coins, the 1oz silver lunar goat mintage shows it outsold the horse and snake in the years before it, though the 1oz gold lunar goat mintage did not fare as well selling only around half the maximum while the horse and snake before it sold out.
 

Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins (Year of the Goat)

And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

 
The Perth Mint Australia

Niue 2015 $8 Lunar Goat Gold Plated 5oz Silver Proof

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I gave you a sneak peek of this coin a few weeks ago in this post. It has now be released in all it's glory and is easily the most impressive 2015 lunar goat design unveiled yet:
 
Niue 2015 $8 Lunar Goat Gold Plated 5oz Silver Proof
Downies, who commissioned the coin and started the series last year with the release of the 'Niue 2014 $8 Year Of The Horse 5oz Silver Proof Coin With Selective Gold Plating' provides the following description:
 
Sure to be one of the hottest 2015 Lunar New Year coins, this massive Year of the Goat tribute is struck from a whopping FIVE OUNCES of silver – and spans an imposing 65mm in diameter!
 
Certain to be sought after for the imposing dimensions, the exquisite High Relief Proof strike and the beauty of the precisely gold-plated reverse motif, the inevitably powerful wave of demand for this majestic legal tender $8 will in large part be driven by the success of its predecessor – the 2014 $8 Lunar Horse Gold-Plated 5oz Silver Proof. Undoubtedly a contender for ‘Coin of the Year’, the 500-coin mintage of the Year of the Horse Silver 5oz sold out at super speed.

As powerful, as eye-catching and as exclusive as its predecessor, with the mintage just 500 coins, there would seem no doubt that this stunning new release will march down the same path to success. Strike while the iron is hot!
 
  • An exquisite, imposing legal tender tribute to the Year of the Goat
  • Exclusive! Ensuring a sell-out, the mintage has been restricted to a mere 500!
  • Struck to immaculate Proof quality from a whopping FIVE OUNCES of 99.9% fine silver
  • Spans an imposing 65mm in diameter – and features precise selective gold-plating!
  • Beautifully presented within an impressive, high-gloss timber case
  • Accompanied by an individually serial-numbered Certificate of Authenticity
You can buy it from the Downies website for A$495. It's not a cheap coin, but with such a low mintage and impressive design I would be surprised if it doesn't sell out soon.

Click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

 
The Perth Mint Australia

Royal Canadian Mint Releases 2015 Year of the Sheep (Goat) Lunar Coin Range

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The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled their range of 2015 Year of the Sheep Lunar Coins. You can read about last years release in this post 'Royal Canadian Mint Parades 2014 Lunar Horse Coin Range'. The new coin designs are summarised and pictured below, with some of my thoughts and more information at the end:

Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 8,888 (2015) – 23.17g

Special features:

•  This Year of the Sheep coin is a new addition to the Mint's popular Chinese Lunar series!
•  The Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.
•  This $5 coin is crafted in 99.99% pure silver and features beautiful colouring that adds another dimension to the finely detailed engraving.
•  A celebration of Chinese Canadian culture!
•  Makes a beautiful and thoughtful gift for those born in the Year of the Sheep, and a beautiful addition to any Chinese zodiac-themed collection.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited worldwide mintage.


Design:

 The reverse image features an artistic rendering of a Bighorn sheep – a native of Canada's Rocky Mountains. The use of colour showcases the sheep's beautiful brown colouring. Nestled within the curl of the sheep's distinctive spiral horn, the Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.

1 oz. Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 18,888 (2015)

Special features:

•  Each coin comes in an attractive Asian-inspired case!
•  Crafted in the Royal Canadian Mint's exceptional 99.99% pure silver with a beautiful proof finish; the coin features a matte sheep design over a mirror background.
•  A beautiful addition to your Chinese zodiac-themed collection.
•  The Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited worldwide mintage.


Design:

 Your coin features a sheep on a hill top, a sunset and the Chinese symbol for Sheep.

1/2 oz. Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 22,888 (2015)

Special features:

•  This specimen coin is crafted in 99.99% fine silver.
•  A beautiful addition to your Chinese zodiac-themed collection.
•  The Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited worldwide mintage.


Design:

 Your coin features a detailed depiction of a Bighorn sheep, which is native to Canada's Rocky Mountains. Here, the sheep is viewed in three-quarter profile, which affords the viewer a close look at its distinctively long, spiral horns. An artistic rendering of bamboo–a symbol of longevity–fills the background. The Chinese character yang, meaning "sheep" or "goat," appears below the sheep's shoulder to represent the Year of the Sheep.

Fine Silver Lunar Lotus Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 18,888 (2015) – 26.7g

Special features:

•  Part of the Royal Canadian Mint's popular Lunar Lotus series featuring coins of the Chinese zodiac; 6th coin in this series of 12 coins.
•  Crafted in the Royal Canadian Mint's exceptional 99.99% pure silver with a beautiful proof finish; the coin features a matte sheep design over a mirror background.
•  Each coin comes in an attractive Asian-inspired case!
•  A beautiful addition to your Chinese zodiac-themed collection.
•  The Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited worldwide mintage.


Design:

 Your coin captures the true essence of the Sheep's character, and features a sheep and the Chinese symbol for sheep.

Fine Silver One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 388 (2015)

Special features:

•  Features a first time use of translucent paint on a kilo coin!
•  Crafted in 1 kilogram of 99.99% pure silver, this coin was meticulously polished by hand for a beautiful proof finish; a matte sheep design over a mirror background.
•  Each coin comes in an attractive Asian-inspired case!
•  An exceptional collecting opportunity–only 388 coins available worldwide!
•  Your coin is GST/HST!


Design:

 The reverse image by Canadian artist Three Degrees Creative captures the true essence of the sheep's character.

1/10 oz. Pure Gold Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 2,888 (2015)

Special features:

•  This specimen coin is crafted in 99.99% pure gold.
•  A beautiful addition to your Chinese zodiac-themed collection.
•  The Chinese character yang (meaning "sheep" or "goat") denotes the Year of the Sheep.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited worldwide mintage.


Design:

 Your coin features a detailed depiction of a Bighorn sheep, which is native to Canada's Rocky Mountains. Here, the sheep is viewed in three-quarter profile, which affords the viewer a close look at its distinctively long, spiral horns. An artistic rendering of bamboo–a symbol of longevity–fills the background. The Chinese character yang, meaning "sheep" or "goat," appears below the sheep's shoulder to represent the Year of the Sheep.

18-karat Gold Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 2,500 (2015)

Special features:

•  Part of our popular Lunar series, your coin features a Chinese zodiac and is the 6th coin in a series of 12.
•  Limited to 2,500 coins worldwide.
•  Your coin is crafted in 18-karat gold with a beautiful proof finish; the coin features a matte sheep design over a mirror background
•  Your coin comes in an attractive Asian-inspired case—a perfect gift for someone you know who was born in 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 and 2003.


Design:

 Your coin features a sheep on a hill top, a sunset and the Chinese symbol for Sheep.

Pure Gold One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Sheep - Mintage: 10 (2015)

Special features:

•  Crafted in 1 kilogram of 99.99% pure gold, this coin was meticulously polished by hand for a beautiful proof finish; a matte sheep design over a mirror background.
•  Each coin comes in an attractive gold satin-like Asian-inspired case!
•  An exceptional collecting opportunity–only 10 coins available worldwide!
•  A celebration of Chinese Canadian culture, this coin adds prestige to any collection.
•  Your coin is GST/HST exempt!

 
Design:

 The reverse image by Canadian artist Three Degrees Creative captures the true essence of the sheep's character.

---------------------------------


My favourite is probably the 1/2oz Silver coin, same as last year, it has the strongest looking animal design.

There have been some changes to last years lineup, there is an additional Silver and Gold coin in the mix. The coloured coin (first pictured above) is new with a mintage of 8,888 coins. In my opinion the 1/10oz Gold coin was the better addition and sports the same image as the 1/2oz Silver coin, adding an affordable entry point for those wanting a Gold lunar coin from the Royal Canadian Mint.

Other changes to this series include that of mintages, for example the lotus Silver design has been reduced from 28,888 to 18,888 coins as has the standard 1oz Silver coin. The 1/2oz Silver coin has dropped from 58,888 to 22,888. The kilogram Gold coin has dropped from a mintage of 18 coins to only 10.

You are able to view and purchase the range at the Royal Canadian Mint's online store.


Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins (Year of the Goat)


And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia

2015 Macau Lunar Goat Gold & Silver Proof Coins with Colour

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The Singapore Mint has released images, specifications and pricing of their 2015 Macau Lunar Goat coins on the website, available now to order (silver coins via ballot) with their release forthcoming at the end of September.

I covered last years release here '2014 Macau Lunar Horse Gold & Silver Proof Coins with Colour' which also contains photos from a reader's collection of some of the earlier coins in this popular series, they are a great looking coin.

The mintage numbers remain the same as last year (Macau Lunar Horse), but are higher than the year prior (Macau Lunar Snake).

The description provided by Singapore Mint for this years release is below:
The Monetary Authority of Macau proudly presents the Macau Lunar Coin Collection (2008 – 2019), which is exclusively minted and marketed by The Singapore Mint. The Macau Lunar Goat coin, the eighth in this collection, is issued in conjunction with the arrival of the 2015 Lunar Goat Year.

The obverse side of the coin features a well-defined silhouette outlining the fine details of the goat’s body, flanked by a fringe of brilliantly-hued rhododendron. The goat is traditionally known by the Chinese as a symbol of peace and luck. Rhododendron is one of China's top 10 traditional flowers and has the prestigious title of "Queen of Beauty" bestowed on it. The abundant petals evoke a sense of prosperity and thriving beauty with its vivid colours.

The Mount Fortress is featured on the reverse side of the coin, an important landmark of Macau’s illustrious past. One of the oldest historical structures in Macau, the Mount Fortress is part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the famous saying goes: With the advent of spring begins prosperity. This saying depicts three goats welcoming spring, a symbol of great fortune and usually refers to the unveiling of new beginnings and ushering of renewed peace and serenity. Collecting all three coins from the Macau Lunar Goat series will be akin to having the legendary three goats ushering spring to the individual during the Chinese New Year.
Images of the 3 releases (all carrying the same design, but different sizes, colour or metal) are below, along with specifications for each coin:

2015 Macau Goat 1/4oz 999.9 Fine Gold Proof Coin with colour

 Mintage: 5000 pc(s)
Issue Date: 30-Sep-2014
Diameter (mm): 21.96
Weight (g): 7.78
Material: 999.9 Fine Gold (24K)
Retail Price: S$1,000 / A$860 (increase from S$970 last year)

2015 Macau Goat 1oz 999 Fine Silver Proof Coin with colour

 Mintage: 8000 pc(s)
Issue Date: 29-Sep-2014
Diameter (mm): 40.70
Weight (g): 31.10
Material: 999 Fine Silver
Retail Price: S$168 / A$145 (increase from S$158 last year)

2015 Macau Goat 5oz 999 Fine Silver Proof Coin with colour

 Mintage: 2000 pc(s)
Issue Date: 30-Sep-2014
Diameter (mm): 65.00
Weight (g): 155.52
Material: 999 Fine Silver
Retail Price: S$980 / A$844 (increase from S$950 last year)


As is indicated by the balloted sale for the silver coins, the Macau Lunar Series is likely to be a popular choice for collectors again this year. You can buy pre-order them from the Singapore Mint online store.


Tokelau 2015 Lunar Goat 1oz Silver Coins (Year of the Goat)



And click here to subscribe by email and keep up to date with the latest lunar coin news.


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia
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