The Australian half-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1/2 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.
Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used.
This coin is part of the Lunar Series II (second iteration of the Perth Mint's Lunar Series) and marks the Chinese 2019 Year of the Pig (4 February 2019 - 24 January 2020).
The Mint says about it: The final animal in the Chinese zodiac, the pig is traditionally associated with luck, prosperity and wealth. Those ruled by the Chinese lunar pig are said to be honest, loyal, sincere, calm and generous. Birth dates include 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and 2019. |