The Australian half ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1/2 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion and commemorative coin format; it has face value of either 1 dollar or 50 cents. 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.
The silver Lunar Series series was introduced in 1999 by the Perth Mint (the Royal Australian Mint started a parallel series later) and is dedicated to the Chinese Lunar Calendar and the Chinese Zodiac. Known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, it features twelve animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Boasting a history of more than 2,000 years, it plays an essential role in Chinese culture. The animals zodiac in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China, but also believed to influence people’s personalities, career, compatibility, marriage, and fortune.
This coloured half-ounce silver coin with a face value of fifty cents was issued as part of the Perth Mint's Lunar Series III to mark the 2024 Chinese Year of the Dragon (10 February 2024 - 28 January 2025). It is a special edition whose design differs from the bullion coins in the series, and was issued to mark the 125th anniversary of the Perth Mint.
The mint says about it:
Each animal of the lunar zodiac is said to bestow its dominant characteristics on those born during its rule. The fifth of 12 animals in the calendar, the dragon bestows bravery, ambition, intelligence, and good fortune on those born under its influence in 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024. |
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The reverse of the coin is coloured and portrays a Chinese mythical dragon, in predominantly light colours, facing left, looking at a flaming pearl of wisdom, on a background of sea waves.
Above left, the Chinese character for "dragon": 龍, below which DRAGON and 2024.
The mint mark of the Perth Mint is above right; instead of the traditional P, it is P125, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the mint.
The face value and the precious metal content are on the obverse. |
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