Silver Half Ounce 2024 Year of the Dragon - Baby Dragon, Coin from Tuvalu - detailed information

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 1/2oz 9999 Ag 2024 TUVALU 50 CENTS.

The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1/2 oz 9999 Ag" means "half ounce of 99.99% silver" - Ag is abbreviated from the Latin word for silver, Argentum.

Below the portrait are the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022.

The coin’s reverse depicts "a delightful coloured illustration of a cute dragon - or hatchling - draped in bunting".

Around above, the inscription YEAR OF THE DRAGON. On the left, the Chinese character for "dragon" (in simplified Chinese): 龙.

The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is below right. Below the dragon, the designer's initials NM (for Natasha Muhl).

The face value and the precious metal content are on the obverse.

Silver content (Troy oz): 0.500
Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: the coin is housed in a classic display case with a clear cover sheathed in a "colourfully illustrated shipper" and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint SKU: 24N51AAA.
Release date: 13 November 2023.
Release price: AU$ 82.50.

The coin was issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as there was no portrait of the king approved for use in Tuvalu yet, the obverse of the coin portrays a "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse" with the dates of her reign - "1952 - 2022".