2013 Year of Snake

1 oz and 2 oz Reverse

1 oz Obverse

2 oz Obverse

Mintage

1 kilo: 30,966
10 oz : 28,136
5 oz : 20,102
2 oz : 55,933
1 oz: 300,000
1/2 oz: 160,108

1/2 oz Silver Proof

1/2 oz Silver Proof Obverse

1 oz Silver Proof

1 oz Silver Proof Obverse - Coloured Proof has same Obverse

1 oz Silver Proof Reverse

1 oz Silver Coloured Proof Reverse (Graded in Slab)

1 oz Silver High Relief Proof Obverse

1 oz Silver High Relief Proof Reverse

1/2 oz and 1 oz Proof

1/2 oz and 1 oz High Relief Proof

1/2 oz, 1 oz High Relief and 1 oz Proof

Unofficial 1 oz Typeset

My collection of Silver Lunar Snake for 2013

2012 Year of Dragon

1 kg, 10 oz, 5 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz and 1/2 oz Silver Dragon

300,000 pieces of 1 oz Silver Dragon were sold out on launch day 1 September 2011 for a little below A$50/oz. This was followed by Perth Mint declaring that they were unable to cope with orders and hence suspended production of the 1/2 oz, 2 oz and 5 oz Silver Dragon coins. Prices jumped to as high as A$100/oz but settled to as low as A$60 when silver spot price tanked 25% from US$40 to US$30.

Rolls of 20 Silver Dragon coins

Stacked up of the 6 denominations

It would be interesting to see by 1 September 2012, how many 1/2 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz and 10 oz Silver Dragon coins would be sold when production cease.

Mintage:
1 kilo:
10 oz: 47.390
5 oz: 31,664
2 oz: 118,738
1 oz: 300,000
1/2 oz: 389,161

2011 Year of Rabbit Second Series

Coin's reverse design depicts an adult and young rabbit surrounded by foliage and a tree with creepers entwined in its branches

2 oz and 1 oz 2011 Silver Rabbit

Perth Mint has decided to cease production for the 1/2 kg denomination for the Lunar Series, citing poor take-up. Hence, only 2008 - 2010 would have 1/2 kg version. However, there will be 500 pieces of 10 kg 2011 Lunar Rabbit coins to be produced - more than 10 times of the 2008 & 2009 versions.

Hence, the 2011 Year of Rabbit Second Series Silver has only 7 denominations. However, it continues to have the same number of limited mintage for 1 oz Gilded, Coloured, Proof, 3-Coin Proof Set, 4-Coin Typeset and 1 kg Proof.

Emerald Eye Inset is used in the 2011 Year of Rabbit 1 kg Gemstone Edition.

For 2011 Year of Rabbit, Perth Mint has minted for Cook Islands their first issue of 4-Coin Silver Proof Rectangle Set in the Lunar Series. Each coin has a different design depicting coloured rabbits on the reverse. However, each coin is issued as a legal tender under the authority of the Government of Cook Islands instead of Australia. The maximum mintage for the set is at 3,000 sets, each set is issued with COA and display case.

Coin Specifications:

• 1 troy ounce or 31.135 grams
• 99.9% fineness
• Face value: Cook Islands 1 Dollar
• Dimension: 47.6 X 27.6 X 4.0 mm

Mintage for 2011 Year of Rabbit Silver Lunar Second Series:

• 10 kg: (Capped at 1,000)
• 1 kg: TBD
• 1/2 kg: TBD
• 10 oz: 12,563
• 5 oz: 8,030
• 2 oz: 99,494
• 1 oz: 300,000 (Maximum Mintage)
• 1/2 oz: 124,488

Note: The above-mentioned mintage figures are sales figures released by Perth Mint. Except for the 10 kg and 1 oz, the rest of the denominations have unlimited mintages. Minting will close upon minting of the next issue is declared.

Transacted price (shipped) (Jan - Nov 2010)

Series 2

10 Kilo: NIL

1 Kilo: NIL

10 oz: S$398 - 426

5 oz: NIL

2 oz: S$84 - 88

1 oz: S$36 - 54

1/2 oz: NIL

1 oz Proof: S$94

High silver prices have turned buyers away as there were only 25 pieces of 1 oz and 7 pieces of 2 oz transacted from September to November compared to 61 pieces of 1 oz and 20 pieces of 2 oz transacted in November 2009 alone for the Year of Tiger coins. If silver prices remain high, the Year of Rabbit coins could well be at low mintage.

Apparently, transactions on ebay do not reflect the real situation on the 2011 Rabbit. It was declared by Perth Mint in January 2011 that they have reached the maximum mintage for the 1 oz Rabbit.

Transacted Prices in S$ inclusive of shipping to Singapore (Dec 2010 - Nov 2011)

10oz: S$486 - 547

5oz: S$391

2oz: S$109 - 162

1oz: S$59 - 96

1/2oz: NIL

1oz Proof: S$120 - 133

Typeset: S$473 - 633

Transacted Prices in US$ inclusive of shipping within US (Dec 2010 - Nov 2011)

1 Kilo: US$1,270 - 1,502

10oz: US$445 - 605

5oz: US$180 - 246

2oz: US$70 - 160

1oz: US$38 - 61

1/2oz: US$21 - 32

1oz Proof: US$126

3-Coin Proof Set: US$464

2010 Year of Tiger Second Series

On 16 May 2010, Perth Mint announced that the 1 oz Gold Tiger bullion has reached its maximum mintage of 30,000.

Like the Year of Mouse and the Year of Ox, the Year of Tiger has 8 denominations for the Silver Series. It also has the same number of limited mintage for 1 oz Gilded, Coloured, Proof, 3-Coin Proof Set, 4-Coin Typeset and 1 kg Proof.

Golden Topaz Eye Inset is used in the 2010 Year of Tiger 1 kg Gemstone Edition.

In addition, Perth Mint issued 1,000 2 oz Coloured version as Perth ANDA Coin Show Special.

Mintage for 2010 Year of Tiger Silver Lunar Second Series:

• 10 kg: 173 Sold (500 minted)
• 1 kg: TBD
• 1/2 kg: 5,058
• 10 oz: 16,727
• 5 oz: 14,553
• 2 oz: 63,005
• 1 oz: 300,000 (Maximum Mintage)
  
• 1/2 oz: 50,035

Note: The above-mentioned mintage figures are sales figures released by Perth Mint. Except for the 10 kg and 1 oz, the rest of the denominations have unlimited mintages. Minting will close upon minting of the next issue is declared.

Transacted price (shipped) (Jan - Nov 2010)

Series 2

10 Kilo: S$9,363

1 Kilo: S$935 - 1,140 (Average: S$1,031)

10 oz: S$322 - 456

5 oz: S$174 - 246

2 oz: S$70 - 107

1 oz: S$44 - 55

1/2 oz: S$26 - 40

2009 Year of Ox Second Series

The coin's reverse design depicts an ox and calf standing on grass with hills as background

2 oz Obverse

Like the Year of Mouse, the Year of Ox also has 8 denominations for the Silver Series. It also has the same number of limited mintage for 1 oz Gilded, Coloured, Proof, 3-Coin Proof Set, 4-Coin Typeset and 1 kg Proof.

The only difference is in the 1 kg Gemstone Edition, where the gemstone used for the 2009 version is Yellow Citrine Eye Insets, instead of Blue Sapphire.

Mintage for 2009 Year of Ox Silver Lunar Second Series:

• 10 kg: 40 (Capped at 1,000)
• 1 kg: TBD
• 1/2 kg: 1,535
• 10 oz: 9,020
• 5 oz: 4,720
• 2 oz: 18,570
• 1 oz: 300,000 (Maximum Mintage)
  
• 1/2 oz: 17,674

Note: The above-mentioned mintage figures are sales figures released by Perth Mint. Except for the 10 kg and 1 oz, the rest of the denominations have unlimited mintages. Minting will close upon minting of the next issue is declared.

Transacted price (shipped) (Jan - Nov 2010)

Series 2

1 Kilo: S$1,095

10 oz: NIL

5 oz: S$191 - 211 (Scarce)

2 oz: S$71 - 90

1 oz: S$43 - 56

1/2 oz: S$26 - 34 (Scarce)

2008 Year of Mouse Second Series

Coin's reverse design depicts two mice on a bed of straw with two pumpkins in the background

1 oz Obverse

2 oz Obverse

Seemingly in sync with the Gold Series, which began in 1996, Year of the Mouse, the second of the Silver Lunar Series began production in 2008. The Second Series coins were larger in diameter and hence thinner.

There are 8 denominations for the Silver Series: 10 kilo, 1 kilo, 1/2 kilo, 10 oz, 5 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz, 1/2 oz.

10 kilo: $300

Diameter: 221.0mm

Thickness: 33.0mm

Mintage: 35

1 kilo: $30

Diameter: 100.6 mm

Thickness: 14.6 mm

Mintage: N.A.

1/2 kilo: $15

Diameter: 100.6 mm

Thickness: 7.4 mm

Mintage: 739

10 oz: $10

Diameter: 85.6 mm

Thickness: 6.6 mm

Mintage: 3,718

5 oz: $8

Diameter: 65.6 mm

Thickness: 5.8 mm

Mintage: 3,005

2 oz: $2

Diameter: 55.6 mm

Thickness: 3.6 mm

Mintage: 9,126

1 oz: $1

Diameter: 45.6 mm

Thickness: 2.6 mm

Mintage: 300,000 (Maximum Mintage)

1/2 oz: 50c

Diameter: 36.6 mm

Thickness: 2.3 mm

Mintage: 17,114

• Maximum Mintage of 1 oz Gilded BU*: 50,000 (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)
• Maximum Mintage of 1 oz Coloured BU: 3,800 (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)
• Maximum Mintage of 1 oz Proof: 5,000 (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)
• Maximum Mintage of 3-Coin Proof Set#: 1,000 sets (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)
• Maximum Mintage of 4-Coin Typeset^: 1,500 sets (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)
• Maximum Mintage of 1 kg Proof: 500
• Maximum Mintage of 1 kg Gemstone (with blue sapphire eye inserts): 5,000 (With numbered COA & presentation packaging)

* It is not known how many 1 oz Gilded BU version would be issued without COA & Box.

# The 3-Coin Proof Set comprises of 2, 1 & 1/2 oz Proof coins.

^ The 4-Coin Typeset comprises of 1 oz coin in 4 different types of finish - BU, BU Coloured, BU Gilded & Proof. The 4-Coin Typeset was only available for sale in March 2009.

Transacted price (shipped) (Jan - Nov 2010)

Series 2

1 Kilo: NIL

10 oz: NIL

5 oz: S$194 (Very Scarce)

2 oz: S$158 - 306

1 oz: S$50 - 72

1/2 oz: S$30 - 52

1 oz Proof with COA & Box: S$114

3 Coin Proof Set with COA & Box: S$684

In January 2011, while Perth Mint declared that the 2011 1 oz Rabbit mintage of 300,000 has been reached, it was also announced that the Mint has received an order large enough to continue to strike the 2008 1 oz Mouse up to its maximum mintage. This has incurred the wrath of some collectors despite the Mint reserving their rights to re-open their striking of the 1 oz up to their maximum mintage or when the entire Second Series is closed. The same can be done on the 1 kilo version while the striking for rest of the denominations for the 2008 Mouse is declared closed.