1 oz Dragon Rectangular Gold Coin

A Rectangular Coin from the Perth Mint

The 1 oz Dragon Rectangular Gold Coin is one of the more unusual products in the sovereign bullion market. It is rectangular rather than round, measuring 47.6 mm long by 27.6 mm wide, roughly the proportions of a credit card. Despite its bar-like shape, it is classified as a coin: Australian legal tender with a $100 AUD face value, struck at the LBMA-accredited Perth Mint. This combination of legal tender status with a rectangular format is extremely rare among government-issued precious metals.

The series has been issued annually since 2018, with a completely new dragon reverse design each year. The dragons draw from both Eastern and Western mythology: Eastern dragons symbolise power, strength, and good fortune; the flaming pearl often depicted with them represents wisdom, truth, and enlightenment in Chinese culture. The 2024 issue was the first to carry Dan Thorne's effigy of King Charles III on the obverse, replacing Jody Clark's Queen Elizabeth II portrait. The 2025 reverse, designed by Lucas Bowers, features a snarling dragon with intricately scaled wings and open claws.

At .9999 fine gold, the Dragon Rectangular matches the purity of the 1oz Gold Kangaroo, 1oz Gold Britannia, and Canadian Maple Leaf. Perth Mint's standard security measures apply: micro-laser engraved letters on the reverse, detectable only under magnification, plus the mint's 'P' mintmark. The coin ships in a protective acrylic capsule.

The rectangular format gives the Dragon a distinctive identity in any collection. It combines the government-backed purity guarantee and legal tender status of a coin with the aesthetic appeal and stackability of a bar. Premiums tend to run higher than on standard round bullion coins, reflecting both the limited mintage and the collector demand driven by the annual design changes.

Dragon Rectangular Gold Coin Specifications

Annual Reverse Designs

Dragon Rectangular Tax Treatment

As a .9999 fine gold coin with Australian legal tender status, the Dragon Rectangular qualifies for investment gold tax exemptions in most jurisdictions. The rectangular format does not affect its classification as a coin for tax purposes.

• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade gold legal tender. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with a 50% discount for holdings over 12 months.
• UK: VAT-exempt as investment gold (exceeds the 99.5% purity threshold). Not CGT-exempt (not UK legal tender). UK buyers seeking CGT exemption should consider the 1oz Gold Britannia.
• US: No federal sales tax. State taxes vary; over 35 states exempt bullion. IRA eligibility is likely given the .9999 purity meeting the .995 IRS minimum, but the rectangular format may prompt questions from some custodians about "coin" classification. Confirm with your IRA custodian before purchasing for retirement account purposes.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt as gold at 99.5%+ purity. Meets purity requirements for RRSP eligibility.
• EU: VAT-exempt as investment gold under the EU Investment Gold Directive.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme (gold at 99.5%+ purity from an approved mint).
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt as fine gold at 99.5%+ purity.

Dragon Rectangular vs Standard Perth Mint Gold

The most direct comparison is with the 1oz Gold Kangaroo, Perth Mint's flagship gold coin. Both are .9999 fine, 1 troy ounce, $100 AUD face value, and struck at the same facility. The Kangaroo is round (32.10 mm diameter), has unlimited mintage, annually changing kangaroo designs, and is priced as standard bullion. The Dragon Rectangular is distinctive in format, carries collector premiums above the Kangaroo, and has a more niche market. For pure bullion efficiency (lowest premium per ounce), the Kangaroo is the better choice. For collectors who value the rectangular format and dragon designs, the Dragon offers something no other sovereign coin provides.

Dragon Rectangular vs Perth Mint Lunar Series

The Perth Mint Lunar Series III features a Year of the Dragon coin within its 12-year zodiac cycle, but it is a round coin with broader thematic scope (all zodiac animals). The Dragon Rectangular is dragon-only, every year, with the unique rectangular format. Buyers specifically drawn to dragon iconography will find the Dragon Rectangular offers a dedicated and ongoing series, rather than one dragon appearance per 12-year Lunar cycle.

Dragon Rectangular vs Round Bullion Coins

Against the 1oz Gold Britannia, 1oz Gold Buffalo, and Canadian Maple Leaf, the Dragon Rectangular competes at the same purity level (.9999) but carries higher premiums and narrower liquidity. The Britannia's four-layer security system and the Maple Leaf's Bullion DNA provide stronger authentication than Perth Mint's micro-laser engraving. The Dragon's advantage is entirely in its format and design: it looks and feels different from every other gold coin on the market. For buyers building a standard bullion position, the established round coins offer better value and liquidity. For collectors or buyers who want a distinctive piece with government backing, the Dragon Rectangular fills a niche that nothing else occupies.