Perth Mint Lunar Series Gold Snakes Sell Out

The year 2001 one-ounce Gold Snakes, the sixthbecome collector coins, whereas the sold-out
coin in The Perth Mint Lunar Series, became theone-ounce Dragons, Gold Horses, and Gold Snakes
third coin in the Series to reach the 30,000-coinalready have achieved collector status.
production cap that the Mint set for theThe one-ounce Lunar Series gold coins have
one-ounce gold coins. The year 2000 one-ouncebecome popular with coin collectors and gold
Gold Dragon was the first coin to hit thebullion investors alike. Lunar Series one-ounce gold
production cap, followed by the year 2002coins offer gold bullion investors the opportunity
one-ounce Gold Horse.to buy collector coins at bullion coin prices,
The Perth Mint Lunar Series is based on thetherefore giving bullion coin investors the
Chinese 12 year Lunar Calendar, which dates backopportunity to profit two ways. One, by an
to 2600 BC. Each year is named after an animal,increase in the price of gold. Two, by the potential
and, in turn, each animal sign is governed by fivefor the one-ounce gold coins to pick up collector
elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.premiums.
Each element appears with each animal only onceThese coins are so exquisitely struck that many
every sixty years. Because of the uniqueness ofbullion investors on seeing the beauty of the coins
the Series, coin collectors worldwide are drawn tobuy all the available coins in the Series. (Distribution
these coins.of the final coin in the Series, the 2007 year of
The Perth Mint launched the Lunar Series in 1996the pig, will not begin until September 2006.)
in the year of the Rat. Although aimed at the coinSome bullion investors have become collectors
collector market, Lunar Series coins are sold atbecause of the high quality of the Lunar Series
bullion coin prices.coins.
The Perth Mint Lunar Series coins offer bothAnother reason for increased interest in the Lunar
value and beauty. They are struck with nearSeries gold coins is the approaching 2008 Summer
proof quality and are among the most beautifulOlympics, which China will host. Regularly, the
bullion coins being minted.media carry stories and articles about China, its
Although Lunar coins come in various sizes, theland, people, and culture. As a result, more people
one-ounce coins carry the greatest appeal. Forare learning about the Lunar Calendar, and
gold bullion investors, the one-ounce gold coins arepromotional items related to the Lunar Calendar,
easy to secure and store. And, as a rule,including gold coins, are starting to appear.
one-ounce coins are more sought after by coinStill another reason for the high interest: In the
collectors than are fractional-ounce gold coins.past, collector coins have risen to very high prices
The 30,000-coin production cap also increases theduring precious metals bull markets. Actually,
appeal of the Lunar Series coins. By comparison,sometimes those markets have overheated, and
the U.S. Mint's one-ounce Gold Eagles, which arecollector coins have achieved unrealistic prices. If
the world's best-selling gold bullion coins, haveprecious metals prices are headed higher, as
unlimited production. In 1998 and 1999, the U.S.many metals analysts assert, the one-ounce coins
Mint turned about 1.5 million one-ounce Gold Eaglescould do very well.
each year. Gold Eagles are not likely ever to