Lunar new year

Australian sunar series II - 2012 year of the dragon, The Perth mint released a 1oz silver proof high relief coin.

The birth dates for people ruled by the Chinese lunar dragon include 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012.  Those born under the influence of this sign are said to be confident, enterprising, independent, self-assured, brave and passionate.

Struck from 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, the coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.  No more than 7,500 of these coins were released by The Perth mint.

High relief design

The reverse of the coin depicts a representation of a dragon with a symbolic ‘pearl of wisdom’. The Chinese character for ‘dragon’ and the inscription ‘Year of the Dragon’ also appear in the design with The Perth mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.

The Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2012 year-date, and the monetary denomination are shown on the coin’s obverse.

The coin’s high-relief reverse and obverse are minted on concave surfaces to ensure the optimum flow of metal is achieved by the strike of the die.