| Coin | Silver Five Ounces 2012 Dragons of Legend - Chinese Dragon |
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The Tuvaluan Dollar is the currency of Tuvalu - a small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu has never had banknotes of its own, and has been issuing coins since 1976; these circulate together with coins of the Australian Dollar, which is also legal tender in the country, and to which the Tuvaluan Dollar is pegged.
The Australian Perth Mint issues a large variety of non-circulating legal tender coins under the authority of Tuvalu. Some of these are in the silver five-ounce format (abbreviated as 5 oz). Strictly speaking, they are not bullion as they are priced at a premium and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic merit and collectable value and not just for their precious metal content.
This coin is a special edition in the Dragons of Legend series, and features the Chinese Dragon.
The mint says about it:
A magnificent airborne creature of the reptile kingdom, the Chinese Dragon rules over the elements of air and water. Struck by The Perth Mint from a hefty 5oz of pure silver, the coin’s dragon emblem is believed to bring power, prosperity and good luck. For those born in the dragon year, the year 2012 celebrates the qualities of this fantastic beast. Other year dates of people ruled by this ancient lunar sign include 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
1,000
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: QUEEN ELIZABETH II 5 DOLLARS TUVALU 2012.
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| Reverse | |
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The coin’s reverse depicts two coloured dragons with a representation of a pearl, signifying eternal wisdom. The design also includes a fish motif, representing abundance and harmony.
The rim is decorated with a meander geometric motif.
Around above, the name of the series: DRAGONS OF LEGEND, then SPECIAL EDITION, and the precious metal content: 5oz 999 SILVER (five troy ounces of 99.9% silver).
Around below, the year of issue 2012. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
DRAGONS OF LEGEND SPECIAL EDITION 5oz 999 SILVER 2012 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 5.000
Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in a black presentation case and illustrated shipper, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint SKU: 12T49AAA.
Release price: AU$ 499.00, US$ 332.69.
Commissioned product struck by The Perth Mint. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Chinese Myths and Legends series issued for Tuvalu include:
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Dragons of Legend - Chinese Dragon, 2012
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2014
- 5 oz Silver, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2015
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, The Dragon and His Nine Sons, 2015
- 5 oz Silver, The Dragon and His Nine Sons, 2016
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Koi Fish Jumps the Dragon Gate, 2016
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2016
- 1 oz Silver, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2016
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon, 2017
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Dragon, 2018
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Phoenix, 2018
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Qi Lin and Unicorn, 2018
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Phoenix, 2019
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Double Dragon, 2019
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Phoenix, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Guan Yu, 2020
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2020
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Fu, Lu and Shou, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Zhao Yun, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Yin Yang Koi, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Double Phoenix, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Tiger, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, White Tiger, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and Qilin, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Fu, Lu and Shou, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Double Tiger, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Phoenix and Birds, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Yin Yang Koi, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and the Five Elements, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and Phoenix, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Five Auspicious Creatures, 2024
Coins in the Dragons of Legend series issued for Tuvalu include:
- 5 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), Chinese Dragons and Pearl, 2012
- 1 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), Red Welsh Dragon, 2012
- 1 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), Chinese Dragon, 2012
- 1 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), St George and the Dragon, 2012
- 1 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), Bulgarian Three-Headed Dragon, 2013
- 1 oz Silver Proof (Coloured), European Green Dragon, 2013
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