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2014 Year of the Horse Coins (Lunar Series) from Perth Mint (Gold/Silver)

June 1, 2013, 11:31 pm
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Update, images now available:
Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released

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2002 Perth Mint Bullion Year of the Horse 1oz Gold Coin
While information on the 2014 Year of the Horse coins from Perth Mint is still thin on the ground I thought it was worth mentioning that the ComLaw documents Perth Mint submits (due to legal tender status of the coins) has descriptions on what we can expect from the designs:

2014 Gold Year of the Horse - Bullion Coins

The design on the 2014 Gold Year of the Horse (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 horse, and a landscape featuring grass, loose soil and mountains and clouds in the background. The coins include the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Horse’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘mǎ’ and meaning ‘horse’ and the initials of the designer Tom Vaughan ‘TV’.

2014 Silver Year of the Horse - Bullion Coins

The design on the 2014 Silver Year of the Horse (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 two horses, in a stylised landscape with leafy trees, hilly terrain and a river. The coins include the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Horse’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘mǎ’ and meaning ‘horse’ and the initials of the designer Tom Vaughan ‘TV’.

I'm looking forward to seeing the designs. We can expect images to be released by Perth Mint a few days in advance of their launch later this year (likely to be early September if past years are any guide).

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2013 1 oz Silver Australian Stock Horse Coin from Perth Mint

June 15, 2013, 11:13 pm
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2013 1 oz Silver Australian Stock Horse Coin from Perth Mint
No it's not the new 2014 Lunar Horse coin from Perth Mint, but it's a nice front runner given the coins subject matter. According to the Perth Mint blog the Stock Horse coin is 
"Planned for release in August and will mark the first coin in a new annual series".
Other sources state:
"Yes, it is the first in a series of horses (annual). Yes, it only has 10,000. Yes, it has COA. And yes I bought a roll of 20! From what I understand, one wholesaler (Germany) has the exclusive rights to the series. 10,000 minted. 6000 gone already, 1000 to Australia, leaving 3,000 to snatch up."
Although it seems slated for an August launch on the Perth Mint website, with a majority of the coins being shipped overseas there are already Eurpopean dealers offering them for preorder and selling them on ebay. It seems Australians are best to go international with their purchase on this occasion if they want to guarantee being able to purchase the coin.

The coin comes at the cheaper price point of circa $50, much improvement over the usual $100 price tag of numismatic releases from Perth Mint although on this occasion it appears to be sold without the case (certificate only):

2013 1 oz Silver Australian Stock Horse

Originated from the colonial stock which arrived with the First Fleet in 1788, the Australian Stock Horse is bred to endure the harsh conditions of the countyr´s vast outback.

Renowned for its calm temperament, agility,  strength and endurance, the Australian Stock Horse  has evolved to become both a reliable working, and fine performance, breed. Considered extremely versatile , this variety of horse is often chosen for general riding , stock work on pastoral land and equestrian competitions.

The coin´s reverse portrays an Australian Stock Horse proudly rearing up onto its hind legs in a paddock on a rule property. The design  includes the inscription, THE AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE, the 2013-year-date, the metal, the weight and fineness and the Perth Mint´s "P" mintmark, design by Ing Ing John. The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination are shown on the obverse.

The Perth Mint has issued a strict mintage cap for these Silver coins, which means no more will be minted. Get yours while they are available! All Silver Stock Horse coins come in a plastic capsule with numbered certificate.

Mintage: only 10,000

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2014 Lunar Horse Series Goes Square? New Coins from Perth Mint

June 15, 2013, 11:41 pm
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Following on from the last post on the 2014 Lunar Series Coins from Perth Mint, comes this interesting revelation...
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”
While it won't be the first foray into square coins for Perth Mint, it appears 2014 will be the first of the Lunar series coins to go square. These descriptions come from Comlaw as a result of Perth Mint requiring approval for coins issued legal tender status.

Here is the description for a Silver version of the squared coin:
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”
The descriptions above are made 10 times each indicating that we might have some 2014 Lunar Horse Coin sets being issued (in both Gold and Silver) similar to the 2012 Lunar Dragon 10 Coin Set, except this time it appears the coins will be square rather than round.

Note that these square coins will only be a numismatic release and the bullion series 2014 Lunar Horse coins will still come in a round form. 

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Tokelau 2014 Lunar Horse 1oz Silver Coin (Year of the Horse)

June 16, 2013, 10:43 pm
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2014 Tokelau 1 Oz Silver Year of the Horse Coin ($5 Face Value)
Possibly the first 2014 Lunar Horse coin to be revealed is the 2014 Tokelau 1 Oz Silver Year of the Horse Coin. Pictured above, the coin was minted by New Zealand Mint on behalf of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand.

Modern Coin Mart is taking preorders and has the following description on their website:
Just released! ModernCoinMart has the exclusive United States distribution rights to this new release commemorating the 2014 Lunar Year of the Horse! This is the second in a series of 1oz. Silver Lunar Bullion coins issued by Tokelau and has a low mintage of only 50,000 coins! Each non-graded coin will ship in the original mint capsule as issued (even for larger orders).

We will be carrying the coins in NGC as well as PCGS holders as well as singles, lots, and sealed boxes of ungraded coins!
This is the second Lunar coin in this series, with the 2013 Lunar Snake also available from Modern Coin Mart.

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Australian Stock Horse 2013 1oz Silver Coin - Perth Mint Carded Edition

June 27, 2013, 5:59 am
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You can now purchase the 2013 Australian Stock Horse 1oz Silver Coin from the Perth Mint website, they have released it in limited edition packaging for Australia which is worth considering given the high premiums assigned to some Koala and Kangaroo coins which come carded:


Buy The Australian Stock Horse 2013 1oz Silver Coin from The Perth Mint featuring:

    99.9% Pure Silver
    Stunning Reverse Artistry
    Australian Legal Tender
    Illustrated Presentation Card
    Limited Issue – 1,000

It's a bit cheeky listing this as a separate 1,000 coin issue, given that it forms part of the 10,000 coin mintage, but this carded variety could end up achieving a healthy premium to the non carded coins in my opinion. At $59 this is the first modern numismatic coin from Perth Mint that I am considering buying a few of in quite some time! There are only 370 available on the Perth Mint site presently, I don't expect them to last more than 24-48 hours.



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Performance Of Low Mintage Carded (Blister Pack) Coins - Kangaroo, Koala & Australian Stock Horse

July 8, 2013, 6:00 am
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A handful of coins in carded packaging (sometimes referred to as blister packs) have performed well over the last few years.

The Royal Australian Mint has been releasing coins in this style packaging for their Kangaroo series coins for two decades. The mintage for the carded Kangaroos are below:

Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2013 ... 20,000
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2012 ... 20,000
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2011 ... 20,000
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2010 ... 20,000
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2009 ... 20,000
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2008 ... 6,802
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2007 ... 8,598
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2006 ... 25,535
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2005 ... 26,146
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2004 ... 55,057
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2003 ... 35,230
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2002 ... 32,376
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2001 ... 45,562
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2000 ... 42,638
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1999 ... 49,398
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1998 ... 49,398
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1997 ... 72,850
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1996 ... 49,398
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1995 ... 72,850 (+ Coin Fair 2,500)
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 1994 ... 44,996 (+ Coin Fair 2,500)
Kangaroo Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce 1993 Silver ... 72,853 (+ Coin Fair 5,000)

Most of the above coins have sold in the A$40-50 range over the past few years, with the exception being the two with the lowest mintage. While the mintage on the 2007 coin is higher than in 2008, the Royal Australian Mint didn't release official packaging that year so the number of privately issued cards would be lower than the total:
The 2007 Silver Carded Kangaroo as in the photo was the only year that the mint did not release an official version. Private companies, mainly Downies Coins, ordered a quantity from the mint and used their own packaging. The Downies card has become the “official” version but I have seen the coin on other privately issued cards as well, possible from a US dealer. Silver Spirit Coins
The 2007 coins have performed exceptionally well with a recent sale on ebay achieving US$350 and previously having achieved a peak of almost $500.

The 2008 coin was released with an official presentation card and usually sells for around A$120-140 on ebay, well over double the price of those in the series with a higher mintage. 

The Koala coins from Perth Mint have only been sold with official carded packaging for a few years, the mintages are below:

Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2007 ... 3,060
Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2008 ... 4,601
Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2009 ... 6,292
Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2010 ... 2,752
Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2011 ... 11,865
Koala Carded Uncirculated 1 Ounce Silver 2012 ... 2,315

The price achieved is somewhat dependant on where it's sold, they often achieve the best prices on ebay.de (Germany). For example here is a 2007 Carded Koala which sold for 137 Euros (A$195) and a 2008 Carded Koala which sold for 91 Euros (A$130). The 2012 Carded Koala (lowest mintage so far) recently achieved a sale of 67 Euros (A$95), but has sold for as much as 86 Euros (A$120) in the past. The most recent sale of the 2010 Carded Koala was at 55 Euros (A$80), much the same as the 2009 Carded Koala. Understandably the 2011 Koala with a higher mintage has achieved a lower sale price, recently at 45 Euros ($65).

This brings us to the recently released Australian Stock Horse Coin. This was a commissioned coin by a European dealer, but the Perth Mint released a small number of the coins in special carded packaging (1,000 out of the 10,000 coin mintage). 

The Australian Stock Horse Coin in carded packaging has already achieved a sale price of A$130 on ebay (after being issued at A$59 per coin), but what of it's future value? Will it reach similar levels to the 2007 Carded Kangaroo or Koala? That will probably depend on the strength of the series over time as the next coins are released (the intent is for a new annual horse series, rumour has it the next is expected in May 2014) :
1) This series will feature a different horse design every year. The dealer wasn't too specific about whether it would be a different breed, etc. But I am assuming it will be.

2) The coin will be released annually.

3) The mintage will not be determined by Perth Mint. The mintage for these coins is in control by the dealer with all rights to the coin. The Perth Mint is simply minting them.

4) I'm not sure about the Panda, but the Koala and Kook are Perth Mint's own products. Unlike those, this product is a commission product and it is not to undergo the same fate. The dealer assured me they don't have any intention of raising the mintage as they find that will kill the coin series.
In my opinion the coin (specifically the limited issue carded version) does have a lot going for it...

  • It's the first of a new annual release so should see continued demand as coin collectors new to the series seek to collect the earlier coins.
  • The coin is well designed and has stirred a lot of interest on several coin forums.
  • A limited issue of 1,000 coins (in the carded packaging/blister pack) make it one of the rarest (if not THE rarest) 1oz Silver coins that form part of a series and are released in this style of packaging.
  • It was released only to Australian buyers meaning there should be some solid international demand for the coin in this packaging.

Australian Stock Horse 1oz Silver Coin, photo via Chris Silver
A reason that it might not do so well:

  • Perth Mint hasn't yet confirmed they will release the next coin in the same packaging (they don't have control over the series). If the next coin doesn't have the same limited issue presentation card then there is the potential this impacts demand.
Given the high level of interest in the new series it would be pretty silly for the dealer who has commissioned the coin and Perth Mint to change things now.

In my opinion the coin will continue selling around $100-130 over the next few months, but once horse mania grips the world with 2014 Lunar Horse coins to be released later this year and into next I could see this coin achieving prices closer to $200 (perhaps within the next 12-18 months, but this is only a guess on my part, DYOR and come to your own conclusions).


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Niue 2014 $8 Year Of The Horse 5oz Silver Proof Coin With Selective Gold Plating

July 23, 2013, 1:02 am
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I am on the lookout for new 2014 Lunar Horse Coin releases and spotted another which is out of the gate and bolting (the first observed in the wild was the 2014 Tokelau 1 Oz Silver Year of the Horse Coin). 

The following coin has a very limited mintage of only 500, it's the Niue 2014 $8 Year Of The Horse 5oz Silver Proof and has unique features such as selective gold plating and the coin number minted onto the reeded edge:

Niue 2014 $8 Year Of The Horse 5oz Silver Proof With Selective Gold Plating
Here is the product description from Downies:
Downies Coins is proud to announce the release of the 2014 $8 Year of the Horse Gold-Plated 5oz Silver Proof! Capturing the strength, movement and grace of this majestic animal, the reverse is distinguished by a magnificent design of three horses in full-stride, complemented by a distinguished representation of the traditional Chinese character for the word ‘horse’.

According to the Lunar Zodiac tradition, those born in the Year of the Horse are often seen as generous, fun and decisive, with a relaxed attitude, a sharp mind and a penchant for travel.

Measuring a gigantic 65mm in diameter, and struck from a full five troy ounces of .999 fine silver, this official $8 legal tender issue forms a truly magnificent tribute to the upcoming year in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Selectively gold-plated, to highlight the powerful galloping horse motif, the coin is beautifully presented within a superbly crafted timber case, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity confirming the extremely exclusive nature of this memorable release. The worldwide mintage is strictly limited to a mere 500, which, once the quality of the strike and the strong lunar theme are taken into account, means that this coin is set to be a galloping success!
The coin was commissioned by Downies. They may continue minting further coins with the same specifications in the future turning it into a series (presumably if the demand is high enough for this coin). I have confirmed with Downies that the coin was struck by PAMP (not New Zealand Mint as I first suspected).

A nice coin design and I like the idea of the coins mintage number being struck on the edge, but I think the high initial price will restrict growth in value (over and above issue price), so perhaps a piece best bought by coin collectors (rather than those buying for short term price speculation).


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2014 Lunar Horse Coins: 1oz Silver Niue Island Coin, 1oz & 1/2oz Silver Palau Coins

July 27, 2013, 5:38 am
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Following on from my previous 2014 Lunar Horse coverage I saw these coins pop up for pre-order via ebay, they are released over September / October and appear to be commissioned coins (so there may be no earlier years produced  for the same series) for a German coin dealer: www.schatzkammer-nrw.de

Below are some pictures and the details available:

2014 Niue Island $2 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coin Gilded Proof
2014 Niue Island $2 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coin Gilded Proof
Country of Issue: Niue Island
Legal Tender Face value: $2
Weight: 1 Troy Ounce
Year of Issue: 2014
Metal: Silver (.999)
Maximum Mintage: 3999
Available: Mid to late October (2013)

2014 Palau $5 Lunar Horse High Relief 1oz Silver Coin
2014 Palau $5 Lunar Horse High Relief 1oz Silver Coin
Country of Issue: Palau
Legal Tender Face Value: $5
Weight: 1 Troy Ounce
Year of Issue: 2014
Metal: Silver (.999)
Maximum Mintage: 3000
Available: Mid September (2013)

2014 Palau $2 Half Oz 2014 Year of the Horse Silver Coin
2014 Palau $2 Half Oz 2014 Year of the Horse Silver Coin
Country of Issue: Palau
Legal Tender Face Value: $2
Weight: 1/2 Troy Ounce
Year of Issue: 2014
Metal: Silver (.999)
Maximum Mintage: 3000
Available: Mid September (2013)

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Royal Canadian Mint Parades 2014 Lunar Horse Coin Range

August 6, 2013, 3:08 am
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The Royal Canadian Mint has released details of their 2014 Lunar Horse Coin line-up, you can view them all on the RCM website. I have summarised the releases below:

 Fine Silver Lunar Lotus - Year of the Horse (2014)

Fine Silver Lunar Lotus - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Part of our popular Lunar Lotus series, your coin features a Chinese zodiac and is the 5th coin in a series of 12.
•  Your coin has been designed using the unique scallop shape, reminiscent of the lotus flower.
•  Limited to 28,888 coins worldwide.
•  Your coin is crafted in 99.99% pure silver with a beautiful proof finish; the coin features a matte horse design over a mirror background

1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)

1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Part of our popular Lunar series, your coin features a Chinese zodiac and is the 5th coin in a series of 12.
•  Limited to 28,888 coins worldwide.
•  Your coin is crafted in 99.99% pure silver with a beautiful proof finish; the coin features a matte horse design over a mirror background

1/2 oz Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)

1/2 oz Fine Silver Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Only 58,888 coins worldwide.
•  Your coin is crafted in 99.99% pure silver with a beautiful specimen finish; the coin features a natural shiny horse design over a lined finish background.

18-karat Gold Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)

18-karat Gold Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Part of our popular Lunar series, your coin features a Chinese zodiac and is the 5th 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 horse design over a mirror background

Pure Gold One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)

Pure Gold One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Lower mintage than previous year! (Limited to 18 coins)
•  Crafted in 1 kilogram of 99.99% pure gold, your coin was meticulously polished by hand for a beautiful proof finish; a matte horse design over a mirror background

Fine Silver One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)

Fine Silver One Kilogram Coin - Year of the Horse (2014)
•  Lower mintage than previous year! (Limited to 388 coins)
•  Crafted in 1 kilogram of 99.99% pure silver, your coin was meticulously polished by hand for a beautiful proof finish; a matte horse design over a mirror background

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To be honest I am a little underwhelmed by the designs. The lotus design along with the standard 1oz and 18k coins have a somewhat feminine design (but that's just a matter of taste). I do like the more aggressive look to the 1/2oz coin, the horse head profile reminds me of a knight chess piece. The design on the larger coins is ok. They have reduced the mintages on the larger coins, the kilo Gold coin has dropped from 25 coins for the 2013 lunar snake to 18 for the 2014 lunar horse, the kilo Silver coin has seen a drop from 888 to 388.

You can catch some of my previous 2014 Lunar Horse Coin coverage below:






2014 Year of the Horse Coins (Lunar Series) from Perth Mint (Gold/Silver)

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

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Lunar Horse Coins Are Bolting Out Of The Stable

August 9, 2013, 6:09 am
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The below article was written for American Hard Assets magazine & will be featured in an upcoming issue (keep an eye out). You can also catch them on twitter: @HardAssetsMag

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In the premier issue of American Hard Assets I wrote about the lunar snake coins that were released to celebrate the Chinese Lunar Calendar (2013 being Year of the Snake). While we are still around 6 months away from the start of the Chinese New Year (marking the change to Year of the Horse), which begins on January 31st 2014, that hasn’t stopped dealers and mints from getting their coins designed, minted and released to the public well in advance.

At the time of writing this article (early August) there are already around half a dozen designs which have been released in the public domain, one of which (the Tokelau 2014 Lunar Horse 1oz Silver Coin) is already in the hands of collectors with several ‘unboxing’ videos making their way to YouTube in July. This coin is the second in the Tokelau Lunar Coin Series. The maximum mintage is 50,000. The coin is currently listed on Modern Coin Mart’s website (they have exclusive distribution rights in the US) at a rate of $27.25 per coin (in bulk 200 coin purchase), which is 37% above spot. They are also being sold in graded packaging (from NGC and PCGS) for a higher premium.

Several other designs have been publicly revealed, most so far appear to have been commissioned specifically by dealers to capitalise on expected popularity for lunar horse coins. They include a 5 ounce silver proof coin released by Downies in Australia (legal tender of Niue, struck by PAMP) which has selective gold plating and a mintage of only 500 coins; a unique feature includes the mintage number being stamped onto the reeded edge of the coin. Another several coins available for preorder with legal tender status in Niue or Palau appear to have been commissioned by a German dealer and vary in size 1/2oz to 1oz with various finishes (including partially gold gilded and selective use of colour). The continuation of these ‘first issue’ coins into an ongoing series will likely depend on the popularity of these releases.

I have not yet seen any gold lunar coins available for preorder or sale, the lower price point of silver coins makes them a much more popular option for investors and collectors (so the number of gold coin offerings is usually much lower). Even the most popular of gold lunar coins do not appreciate in value anywhere near that of their silver counterparts, so for investment purposes you are best sticking with purchasing silver lunar coins unless you expect gold to significantly outperform silver in the foreseeable future.

We can also expect to see the regular offerings of lunar series coins which will be released over the coming months and include those of Singapore Mint (Macau Series, their 5oz silver coin with mintage of 500 is usually quick to sell out), PAMP (lunar themed bars, due for release in late August), Royal Canadian Mint, China Mint and New Zealand Mint (who takes particular care in providing unique and high quality presentation packaging). The Perth Mint will also have their regular line-up with a mix of bullion coins and numismatic releases, including a special coloured set of square coins destined for the Chinese market.

Half a decade ago there was only a handful of mints producing lunar coins designs, but the increasing interest in physical precious metals as a ‘safe haven’ asset (not always price safety, but their lack of counterparty risk) has bought a larger pool of buyers to the coin market . The perfect example to illustrate these changing dynamics is to look at the demand for Perth Mint’s Lunar Series II Coins (specifically the 1oz bullion coins with a mintage limit of 300,000), which started in 2008 and runs to 2019. The first couple of coins in Series II weren’t particularly strong sellers (and didn’t sell out in the year of issue, they were later minted up to their limits), but after interest increased we saw the 2011 1oz bullion rabbit sell out in around 5 months, the 2012 dragon took only days and the 2013 snake has also seen strong sales, selling out in 2 months. I expect the time it takes for the horse to sell out will be somewhere between that of the dragon and snake.

The Perth Mint’s Lunar Series Coins are probably the most well recognised globally and their success has in a large part been the driver behind many other mints jumping onto the lunar coin bandwagon. To give an example of just how sought after the coins are, the Perth Mint received expressions of interest from dealers and wholesalers for 1.2 million of the 1oz lunar snake bullion coin (4x maximum mintage). Perth Mint coins have been especially popular in European countries and examples of premiums they can fetch are observable on sites like Silber-Corner or eBay Germany.

The Perth Mint Australia

The designs for the Perth Mint lunar coins don’t come out of embargo until August 22nd (they will be published on SilverLunar.com on that date), but I have seen the designs and think collectors and investors will be well satisfied. Of course judging the aesthetics of any coin design is subjective, but in my opinion the aggressive stance of the horse (presumably representing a wild brumby), mountains and Chinese styled clouds make for the best design in Series II so far. The design for the silver coin is also graceful with two horses standing near a river (which flows down the right hand side of the coin), one of them drinking from it. I think they will be well received by lunar coin fans.

Something that should be clear in a buyers mind before making a purchase of any lunar coins is whether you are buying the coin/s primarily for the purpose of investment (to make a profit over time) or just to add to your collection (for personal enjoyment of the coin itself).

There is a fine line when it comes some of the lunar products as some of them start as a bullion product (when sold directly from the mint), but once sold out can quickly achieve a numismatic premium. In my opinion these are the coins best targeted by the lunar coin investor as they provide a mix of lower premium to purchase (when bought on release), but with the potential to increase in value over and above that of other bullion coin products (such as an American Silver Eagles or Canadian Maples, which are produced in far higher quantities, without limit). Even where mints produce bullion coins with a limit they are often far higher than that of the 1oz bullion lunar coins from Perth Mint (e.g. Chinese Panda at 8 million for 2013 or Royal Canadian Mint’s Wildlife Series which were capped at 1 million per coin).

Many of the ‘modern numismatic’ lunar coin releases will set you back a very high premium over the content of the metal in the coin, for example most 1oz releases will set you back circa $100 which is currently a 400% premium to spot price, so the value of the coin will move in line with demand for that specific coin (rather than track the price of silver). Bullion lunar coins are sold on release with much lower premiums (usually around $5-10 over spot, 25-50% based on current spot price) and will more closely track the price of Silver, but can also achieve high premiums over time depending on the demand for the coin (for example the 2010 1oz silver bullion tiger from Perth Mint was widely available for $10 over spot per coin when released, but now commands a premium of $40 over spot). Some modern numismatic coins will hold their value or even increase over time, but the majority are unlikely to and in this writers opinion investors are best sticking with popular bullion lunar coins.

Of the lunar coins we can expect released over the next 12 months, it’s my opinion that the 1oz silver bullion lunar coin from Perth Mint is the best coin to purchase for those seeking a financial return (for investment). They have a low maximum mintage, an aesthetically pleasing design, a quality finish, are individually capsuled for protection, come with legal tender status from world renowned Perth Mint, are priced as bullion coins on release and are sought after by coin investors and collectors all over the world. If you expect the price of silver to continue appreciating over the long term, then they are a great option for exposure to the spot price, but come with the potential for a numismatic premium once sold out at the Perth Mint.

Whether you are buying lunar coins for investment or to add to your coin collection, they are well worth focusing on given the Chinese origins of their subject matter, a region which is likely to become more influential over time and with it their cultural history which is reflected in the theme of these coins.
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More 2014 Lunar Horse Coins Out Of Europe

August 12, 2013, 4:01 am
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To add to the existing 2014 Lunar Horse Coin releases I have been following comes these releases available from European dealers...

Horse Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin $2 Tokelau 2014

Horse Five Elements Lunar Year 1 Oz Silver Coin 2$ Tokelau 2014
This particular oval coin celebrates the Year of the Horse. Minted from one ounce of .999 fine silver, total mintage worldwide was limited to 2014 pieces. Comes with a beautiful presentation case and a Certificate of Authenticity. Available from Power Coin

France - 10 Euro silver coin PROOF, Year of the Horse, 2014

France - 10 Euro silver coin PROOF, Year of the Horse, 2014

 France - 50 Euro gold coin PROOF, Year of the Horse, 2014

 France - 50 Euro gold coin PROOF, Year of the Horse, 2014

The description for the above two coins reads as follows: The Horse is the 7th animal in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be libertarian, creative, emancipated, intelligent, generous and loyal to their friends. The obverse of the coin depicts a Horse within a decorative frieze as well as the Chinese ideogram for the Year of the Horse.

The maximum mintage on the two coins from France is not clear, but if following the lead of some of the previous releases from Monnaie de Paris then we can expect the Silver coin may have a maximum mintage of 10,000 and the Gold coin a maximum mintage of 1000. You can see some of the previous releases listed on Talisman Coins.



The Perth Mint Australia
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Australian Perth Mint 2014 Lunar Horse Coins - Release Dates & Image Embargo

August 17, 2013, 5:39 pm
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Update, images now available:
Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released

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See below for a list of release dates for the 2014 Perth Mint bullion Year of the Horse coins (and other 2014 bullion coin releases):

2nd September 2013
2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Gold Bullion Coin Series
2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Silver Bullion Coin Series (1/2oz, 1oz & 2oz)
2014 Australian Kookaburra Silver Bullion Coin Series

1st October 2013
2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Silver Bullion Coin Series (5oz, 10oz & 1 kilo)
2014 Australian Kangaroo Gold Bullion Coin Series

5th November 2013
2014 Australian Koala Silver Bullion Coin Series

I assume the Perth Mint is splitting the release dates for the different sized bullion lunar coins to avoid the issues experienced in previous years where they were unable to keep up with demand for all sizes on initial release.

Note that to purchase the above coins directly through Perth Mint you will need to register on their bullion site: http://www.perthmintbullion.com or alternatively you can purchase through other dealers who offer the coins.

The numismatic Perth Mint releases will be available the day after the bullion release (September 3rd 2013), on the Perth Mint website from 12.01am:


Here are the numismatic lunar releases we can expect to see from Perth Mint on September 3rd (we may not see all released on this date, some may come later):

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 2oz 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 Three-Coin Set
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 Three-Coin Set

The Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse 2oz Silver Proof Coin released separately will continue the: 

Australian Lunar Series II 2oz Silver Proof Coin Collection

The above set was released last year (with the previous Series II coins supplied in the ) to the dismay of some collectors who liked that the 2oz Silver proof coin was only available in the Three-Coin set previously.

You will want to be refreshing this page (Latest Releases) at the time of release if wanting to secure some of the popular Silver proof coins, I have no doubt the 1oz Proof Lunar Horse and Three-Coin Set will be very popular and sell out quickly. Personally I will be sticking with 1oz bullion coins, as outlined in my post from the other day, I think they are the safest bet with long term potential when purchased at prices much closer to spot:


As discussed in that post, images of the Perth Mint Lunar Horse Coin designs have not yet been released, but I will be publishing them on this blog at 12.01am AEST on August 22nd (day the embargo finishes), so stay tuned and if you want to receive the images by email, you can signup to free updates: [CLICK HERE] To subscribe to blog updates via email (free).


The Perth Mint Australia
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More 2014 Lunar Horse Coin Releases Canter In - Laos, Cook Island, Niue

August 19, 2013, 6:35 am
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Some further 2014 Lunar Horse Coin releases to feast your eyes on (and available to preorder):

Horse Jade Lunar Year 2 Oz Silver Coin 2000 Kip Lao Laos 2014

Horse Jade Lunar Year 2 Oz Silver Coin 2000 Kip Lao Laos 2014
Available from Power Coin: After the great success in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the fourth Lunar Silver coin with a real Burmese Jade insert, this magnificent piece celebrates the Year of the Horse. Minted from two ounces of .999 fine silver, the devices are gilded in 24 carat gold. Total mintage worldwide was limited to 2.888 pieces. Comes as issued with a beautiful presentation case and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Horse Mother of Pearl Lunar Year Series 5 Oz Silver Coin 50$ Cook Islands 2014

Horse Mother of Pearl Lunar Year Series 5 Oz Silver Coin 50$ Cook Islands 2014
Available from Power Coin: The third issue of Lunar series 'Mother of Pearl' following the successful release of the word's first Lunar Silver coin with real mother of pearl in 2012 (Dragon) and in 2013 (Snake), this issue celebrates the Year of the Horse. This 5 oz coin consists of pure silver 999 with a mintage strictly limited to only 888 pieces worldwide.

 Year of the horse 2014 Niue $1 15.5g Sterling Silver Coin

Year of the horse 2014 Niue $1 15.5g Sterling Silver Coin
Available from Dazzling Coins. Country: Niue Island, Fine Weight: 15.55 g, Fineness: 925/1000 Silver, Nominal: $1, Diameters: 38.6 mm, Year: 2014

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Don't forget the images for the Perth Mint Lunar Coins will be released on this site in only 2 days (1 minute after the embargo ends):

Australian Perth Mint 2014 Lunar Horse Coins - Release Dates & Image Embargo

And for more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:


The Perth Mint Australia
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2014 Lunar Horse Coins From Royal Australian Mint

August 19, 2013, 2:04 pm
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Below are the details of the 2014 Year of the Horse Coin releases from Royal Australian Mint. Normally I would only cover Gold & Silver bullion releases, but the first coin I have made an exception for as it's a unique looking coin (2014 50c Tetra-decagon Horse Coin) even though minted in CuNi:

2014 50c Tetra-decagon Horse Coin

2014 50c Uncirculated Tetra-decagon Coin Lunar  Series Year of the Horse. Available from the Royal Australian Mint. Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, people born in the year of the horse are said to be bursting with energy – the life of any party they attend. It is with this description in mind that the Royal Australian Mint is pleased to announce the third release in the innovative tetra-decagon series, the Lunar Year of the Horse coin.  The reverse design features an artistic impression of an unbridled horse cavorting through fields of flowing grass, with the traditional Chinese character for ‘horse’ in the sky. This uncirculated coin is struck on cupro nickel and presented in a beautifully coloured card. Mintage Unlimited.


2014 $1 Silver Proof Horse coin

2014 $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin Year of the Horse Lunar Series. Available from the Royal Australian Mint Shop. In 2014, we acknowledge those born under the sign of the Horse. Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, people born in the year of the horse are said to be bursting with energy – the life of any party they attend. The coin will be struck in fine Silver – and will serve as either a valuable addition to the lunar collector or a precious stand-alone keepsake. 11.66 Grams of Silver, Mintage 10,000 coins.
 

2014 $10 5oz Silver Horse

2014 $10 5oz Silver Proof-like Coin Year of the Horse Prestige Lunar series. Available from the Royal Australian Mint shop. This will be a year of great energy and power as the high spirited horse takes centre stage. Gifted with many talents, those born in the year of the horse are trustworthy, friendly and open-minded. The 5oz silver coins will feature the ‘Kicking Horse’ design, popular in Chinese art during the Ming Emperor Chénghuá period 1465-87. The coin will be presented in a leatherette case. Mintage 5,000 coins.


2014 $30 1kg Silver Horse

 
2014 $30 1kg Silver Proof-like Coin Year of the Horse Prestige Lunar series. Available from the Royal Australian Mint shop. This will be a year of great energy and power as the high spirited horse takes centre stage. Gifted with many talents, those born in the year of the horse are trustworthy, friendly and open-minded. The 1kg Silver coin will feature the ‘Eight Horses’ of Má Wáng, renowned for having carried the fifth ruler of the Zhou Dynasty ,King Mu 1023-957 BCE. The coin will be presented in a leatherette case with a certificate of authenticity. Mintage 1,500 coins.

2014 $10 Gold Proof Horse Coin

2014 $10 Gold Proof Coin Year of the Horse Lunar Series. Available from the Royal Australian Mint shop. Since 2007 the Royal Australian Mint has celebrated each Lunar Year by releasing coins depicting each animal of the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.In 2014, we acknowledge those born under the sign of the Horse. Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, people born in the year of the horse are said to be bursting with energy – the life of any party they attend. The coin will be struck in 1/10 oz gold – and will serve as either a valuable addition to the lunar collector or a precious stand-alone keepsake. 1/10 ounces of Gold, Mintage 2,500 coins.

2014 $100 1oz Gold Horse

2014 $100 1oz Gold Proof-like Coin Year of the Horse Prestige Lunar series. Available from the Royal Australian Mint shop. 2014 will mark the Year of the Horse. This will be a year of great energy and power as the high spirited horse takes centre stage. Gifted with many talents, those born in the year of the horse are trustworthy, friendly and open-minded. The 1oz Gold coin will feature the ‘Eight Horses’ of Má Wáng, renowned for having carried the fifth ruler of the Zhou Dynasty ,King Mu 1023-957 BCE. The coin will be presented in a leatherette case with a certificate of authenticity.

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Although they are not cheap coins (like most of the proof/premium lunar coins that are covered on this blog), this is a lineup of some great looking coins! Click the link to the Royal Australian Mint shop under each coin to go to the product page for extra information including prices.

Don't forget the images for the Perth Mint Lunar Coins will be released on this site in less than 2 days (1 minute after the embargo ends):

Australian Perth Mint 2014 Lunar Horse Coins - Release Dates & Image Embargo

And for more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:

The Perth Mint Australia
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Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released

August 21, 2013, 6:23 am
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As mentioned in a post a few days ago, the embargo for images of the Perth Mint'2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse' Series (II) Coins ends today, so without further ado here are the images (click images to enlarge):

 2014 Perth Mint Lunar Year Of The Horse Silver & Gold Bullion Coins

I'm interested in your opinions, so post what you think of the coin designs in the comment section below the post. In my opinion the design for the Gold coin is the best so far in Series II (of all the coins) and the Silver coin looks fantastic also, here is a photo of the 1 ounce Silver coin in the flesh:

2014 Perth Mint Lunar Year Of The Horse Silver Coin Photo
The bullion lunar coins can be purchased from Bullion Money (available now), the proof coins once available will be listed on the Perth Mint Website.

Here are the key (Perth Mint lunar coin) release dates again:

22nd August
Image embargo ends (hence this post showing off the designs)

2nd September
2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Gold Bullion Coin Series
2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Silver Bullion Coin Series (1/2oz, 1oz & 2oz)

3rd September
Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Gold and Silver Proof Coins

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

Covering key dates & list of proof coins we will likely see released by Perth Mint on September 3rd.

Covering a multi coloured square lunar coin set we can expect to see from Perth Mint. 

2014 Year of the Horse Coins (Lunar Series) from Perth Mint (Gold/Silver)
The first coverage of the Perth Mint coins including description pulled from comlaw documents.

An article for American Hard Assets which outlines my preference for the Perth Mint 1oz bullion Silver Lunar coin as favoured purchase above all other lunar releases.

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


Cheers

Bullion Baron.

The Perth Mint Australia
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Don't Pay Too Much For 2014 Perth Mint Lunar Year Of The Horse Silver 1oz Coins

August 26, 2013, 7:27 pm
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I wrote in a recent article on lunar coins ("Lunar Horse Coins Are Bolting Out Of The Stable"):
Of the lunar coins we can expect released over the next 12 months, it’s my opinion that the 1oz silver bullion lunar coin from Perth Mint is the best coin to purchase for those seeking a financial return (for investment). They have a low maximum mintage, an aesthetically pleasing design, a quality finish, are individually capsuled for protection, come with legal tender status from world renowned Perth Mint, are priced as bullion coins on release and are sought after by coin investors and collectors all over the world. If you expect the price of silver to continue appreciating over the long term, then they are a great option for exposure to the spot price, but come with the potential for a numismatic premium once sold out at the Perth Mint.
Although I think the 1oz bullion coin from Perth Mint is the best lunar coin to purchase (for future increase in value), I only think it's only worth buying if you pay a reasonable premium today. As it stands the standard A$10 premium on Perth Mint 1 ounce bullion coins (from the mint, there are volume breaks) is higher than many other mints and 37% premium to spot price (A$26.75). However, a lower premium circa $5-7 is usually possible given dealer discounts.

Most Perth Mint distributors have decided to increase the premium they charge customers on the 1oz mintage limited horse simply because the demand is there. In Australia thats resulted in a $11 (41%) premium ($1 over maximum Perth Mint premium direct, $4-6 over the usual premium they might charge on 1 ounce coins), with Gold Stackers being an exception. 

US dealers such as APMEX & Gainesville have come out with prices around US$38-40 for the 1oz bullion lunar horse coin... at current spot price (US$24.20) that's around a 57-65% premium. In my opinion that's pushing the boundaries on what constitutes a fair price and what an investor should pay for a coin that is yet to even be officially released by Perth Mint (and where it's not yet sold out).

When released the 2012 1oz bullion dragon coin shot up to $100+ on the secondary market for a brief period of time, but then pulled right back and now sells for around $40-50. 

Don't pay too much for 2014 Perth Mint Lunar Year Of The Horse Silver 1oz Coins! You may be better off buying other sizes such as the 2oz, 5oz or 10oz coins (available to preorder now via Bullion Money) or wait for the Perth Mint to open up sales of the 1oz coin via their bullion website (Perth Mint Bullion), but I don't expect they will last more than a day or two there.

For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:


Royal Canadian Mint Parades 2014 Lunar Horse Coin Range

If you are interested in receiving free updates to your inbox with lunar coin releases then strongly recommend you signup for free email updates:
[CLICK HERE] To subscribe to blog updates via email (free).


Cheers
Bullion Baron.
The Perth Mint Australia
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PAMP Lunar Horse Gold & Silver Bars (2014) - Lunar Calendar Series

August 26, 2013, 11:14 pm
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Mostly this blog covers the lunar coin releases, but given the popularity of lunar coins we've seen PAMP introduce a series of bars, titled 'Lunar Calendar Series'. This is the third in the series (following dragon and snake) and in my opinion the new design trumps the earlier bars...

They are minted in unlimited quantity, but each bar comes in CertiPAMP packaging which lists the certificate number (the case also provides protection from scratches and peace of mind the bar hasn't been tampered with) . The PAMP Lunar Horse Bars are available in Silver (10g, 1oz & 100g) and Gold (5g, 1oz & 100g). See below for images (click them to enlarge) and these bars can be purchased from Bullion Money.




For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:

Royal Canadian Mint Parades 2014 Lunar Horse Coin Range

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

Cheers
Bullion Baron.
The Perth Mint Australia
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New Zealand Mint 2014 Year of the Horse Lunar Coins

August 28, 2013, 5:17 am
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I am a fan of the New Zealand Mint Lunar Series Coins, you can see my previous articles on their 2013 lunar snake coins and 2012 lunar dragon coins. They produce some great designs and some even better packaging in which to display their coins, but their designs tend to lack consistency. For example the ingot presentation case release in 2012 was a beautiful round gilded dragon, but in my opinion was spoiled the next year with the 2013 snake which was coloured and oval shape (although they did produce a gilded snake in alternative packaging). They've gone back to the round gilded design this year in the ingot shaped box and in my opinion the design looks like a winner.

Here are the New Zealand Mint 2014 Lunar Horse Coins (available from mid September):

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coin

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coin
Metal: 999 Fine Silver
Finish: Proof / Coloured
Weight: 1 Troy Ounce
Denomination: $2
Country of Issue: Niue
Mintage: 5,000

2014 Year of the Horse 1/2oz Silver Coin

2014 Year of the Horse 1/2oz Silver Coin
Metal: 999 Fine Silver
Finish: Proof / Coloured
Weight: 1/2 Troy Ounce
Denomination: $1
Country of Issue: Niue
Mintage: 5,000

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Gold Plated Silver Coin

2014 Year of the Horse 1oz Gold Plated Silver Coin
Metal: 999 Fine Silver
Finish: Proof / Selectively Plated
Weight: 1 Troy Ounce
Denomination: $2
Country of Issue: Niue
Mintage: 5,000

The images were provided courtesy of Maggie's Bullion, preorders will likely be taken in the near future. I have purchased coins through Maggie in the past (including the New Zealand Mint Gilded Dragon and it has always been a smooth transaction). I will likely put in an order for the gilded coin above, the dragon release from a couple of years back is stunning:

New Zealand Mint 2012 1 oz Silver Proof Lunar Dragon Gilded Coin

And for more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:

Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released
2014 Lunar Horse Coins From Royal Australian Mint
2014 Niue Island $2 Year of the Horse 1oz Silver Coin Gilded Proof

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
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2014 Proof Lunar Horse Coins from Perth Mint

September 1, 2013, 2:05 pm
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As previously discussed in this post on Perth Mint Lunar Coin release dates, there are a couple of important dates that have crept up on us. Today (Monday 2nd September) sees the official release of the 2014 Australian Lunar – Year of the Horse Gold Bullion Coin Series at Perth Mint& given increased premiums that other dealers are charging, this might be the last opportunity for those interested to purchase the mintage limited 1oz bullion coins for a reasonable price (direct from Perth Mint Bullion). My suspicion, given observable demand for the 1oz bullion coins, is that Perth Mint will only have these available directly for a very short period of time.

Following the bullion release during the day, the Australian Lunar Series II 2014 Year of the Horse Gold and Silver Proof Coins will be available from tonight, 12.01AM 3 September (AWST). Presumably this will see the release of the standard lunar proof coin lineup (links will take you to latest releases page where coins will be found after release time, I will update with direct product links once available):


We might also see some coloured proof coins released.

The standard proof designs will be the same as the bullion coins, but with the finish reversed. The Perth Mint provided the following description of the proof vs bullion coins on their coin blog last year:
Proof Coins

The very highest quality coins produced by The Perth Mint feature a proof finish. The coin table (background) is highly-polished and mirror-like.

Traditionally, design elements are delicately frosted. However, as an alternative, we colour some or all design elements on many of our proof quality releases.

Bullion Coins

Bullion coins are made for the purpose of investing in precious metals. They are mass produced to keep the price as close to ‘spot’ as possible. As a result, the finish on many bullion coins issued worldwide is uniform with no distinctively polished or frosted areas.

The Perth Mint takes a different approach. Our bullion coins feature a frosted table and a shiny design (the opposite way round to proof issues). The quality of each strike means that our bullion coins are sometimes referred to as “reverse proofs”. Indeed, we would claim they have the best quality bullion finish in the world.
The images we can expect to see on the standard proof coins:


Point your browser to the lunar coin page (click here) or the new releases page (click here) following the release time if you want to get your hands on any of the proof releases. No doubt the Silver proof coins will be fast to sell out, but only time will tell whether they will make a good investment. No doubt however that many collectors will be scrambling to buy their favourite or complete a set regardless of what prices do once sold out.

Don't forget the Perth Mint also has free shipping on orders A$400 or higher:

FREE SHIPPING OFFER: The Perth Mint offers free shipping worldwide on any online orders over AUD $400.00 (Australian Dollars). This offer excludes any coin subscriptions, bullion orders and delivery by courier.

For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:

Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released
2014 Lunar Horse Coins From Royal Australian Mint

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

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Perth Mint 2014 Silver Lunar Horse Proof Coins - Baron's Picks: Three-Coin Set & 1oz Proof

September 2, 2013, 4:02 am
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Last year I wrote a post on the blog about coin collecting vs coin speculating:

"...a coin collector is someone who purchases the coins for the personal enjoyment of the coins themselves. They buy the coins not to flip them at a higher price in a short period of time (although purchasing below their market value might still be a goal of the collector), but to hold them for longer term increases in value and to enjoy inspecting them as well as sharing their finds and sets with others..."

On that note this post is not about coin collecting, but rather about coin speculation:

"...a speculator in the Silver coin market might be someone who buys modern bullion releases at a higher premium than normal to spot with the expectation the premium will increase over time (due to the coins rarity), it might be someone who buys a large number of new release numismatic coins to try and corner the market, it might be someone who looks for key dates in sets (those with the lowest mintage) to speculate that collector demand for these will increase with time. A speculator is someone who is buying the coins with the intention of profit rather than personal enjoyment..."

Last year I also wrote an article which looked at the longer term price appreciation of Perth Mint proof vs bullion lunar coins and came to the following conclusion:

"...the results, while varied, show that the bullion Silver Lunars have performed much better than the spot increase and much better than the numismatic Lunar coins. In most cases low premium Silver would have outperformed the numismatic Lunar coins as well..."

It's for this reason that I tend to buy the bullion lunar coins to hold medium-long term, but do occasionally speculate short term on the modern numismatic range of Perth Mint coins.

While I can appreciate the aesthetics of a well designed coin (there are some I own which I will never sell) and understand the attraction for collectors, for the most part I speculate/invest in precious metals for profit. When it comes to coin speculation I have had both good and bad experiences. A purchase of 50 x 2010 Clownfish coins a few years back went against me when I got too greedy, waited too long to sell and barely broke even. A recent purchase of 20 x 2013 Carded Stock horse coins went well, I sold them quickly and almost doubled my money.

The potential to speculate on proof lunar coins from Perth Mint has been limited in recent years due to strict purchase limits put on the coins. However there may be an opportunity to make a couple of hundred dollars for those inclined to go to the effort...

The Perth Mint 2013 Silver Lunar Snake Proof Coins have performed poorly over the last 12 months. Many of them traded at premiums to issue price for a short time after they were sold out (some are even still available from the Perth Mint), but quickly came back to earth. Many of the proof coins now sell for around issue price, sometimes even less. Here are a couple of recent completed sales (many that are listed for higher prices go unsold):


Prices achieve from ebay can vary significantly though based on which you list on, for example ebay.de (Germany) has seen some recent sales of the 1oz proof snake at US$109.

But what can we can expect for the Perth Mint 2014 Silver Lunar Horse Proof Coins?

As I pointed out last year, the Silver Three-Coin Set & 1oz Silver Proof are probably those worth concentrating on:

"If last years Lunar Dragon release is to be of any guide on what which will be the most popular you will want to stick with the Silver 1oz Proof Coin and the Silver 3 Coin Proof Set. Shortly after their release the 3 Coin Proof Dragon Set was selling for around $800-1000 (over double the release price) and the 1oz Proof Dragon by itself trebled, selling for $300-400.

Peak prices from my observation were obtained only a short time after their release (although this might also be a result of a falling/low spot price for Silver since that time), so if you are looking to flip any coins, selling shortly after they sell out from official outlets might be a method to achieve the best price."

Some might expect a repeat of the snake, but in my opinion the horse will be a more popular coin and while it might peak in the short term again, I don't think it will fall back below issue price. Just taking a look at a recent result from the 2001 & 2002 Three-Coin Sets gives an indication of higher demand for the horse design with that set finishing 42% higher than the snake (although this can also be attributed in part to the lower mintage, hence rarity, of the horse 3 coin set, 278 vs 599 for the snake):


Recent completed sales on ebay of Series II Three-Coin Sets I've seen indicate prices circa $400 (for Rabbit, Snake) to $500 (for Tiger). Only time will tell how the horse coins go, but as I mentioned earlier in the article... "there may be an opportunity to make a couple of hundred dollars for those inclined". 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 ($340 for Three-Coin Set, $95 for 1oz Proof). Perth Mint is offering free post for purchases over $400, so no cost for that if you purchased both. That would leave you with profit of $240-265 (with ebay fees likely to cost you around $65). It's a fair bit of stuffing around for a couple of hundred dollars and of course a profit that size is not guaranteed, the horse may exceed or under perform my expectations. I've not yet decided whether I will be making a purchase overnight, but for those interested you need to keep an eye on the recent release page here:


The coins go on sale from 12.01am 3rd September 2013 (AWST), which by the looks is:

1.30am in Adelaide
2.00am Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne

Set your alarm clocks if you are desperate to purchase these coins (for collecting or speculation!), in my experience the 1oz Proof and Three-Coin Sets tend to last minutes when made available on the site, rather than hours or days. However, if you miss out on the late night release, they do often put some more on the website the next morning.

Good luck!
 

For more lunar coin coverage, see the below articles:
2014 Proof Lunar Horse Coins from Perth Mint
Images of Perth Mint Lunar (Year of the Horse) Gold & Silver Coins Released
2014 Lunar Horse Coins From Royal Australian Mint

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
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