Gods of Olympus Gold

Perth Mint's Greek Mythology Gold Series

The Gods of Olympus is produced by the Perth Mint (Government of Western Australia) and issued as legal tender of Tuvalu, a South Pacific island nation within the British Commonwealth. The gold version contains 1 oz of 999.9 fine gold with a $100 TVD (Tuvalu Dollar) face value, and is struck in extremely limited quantities: just 100 pieces per year. Each release features a different Greek god or goddess from the Olympian pantheon, with dramatic classical scenes rendered at Perth Mint's characteristically high production quality.

The series originated in 2014 as a high-premium antiqued numismatic collection featuring 2 oz rimless silver coins. This original run was the Perth Mint's first-ever antiqued coin release, making it historically significant for the mint. A complete set of twelve 2 oz antiqued coins was released between 2016 and 2017, covering all twelve major Olympians: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Hestia, accompanied by a 5 oz Mount Olympus centrepiece coin.

The bullion relaunch in 2020 adapted the original designs for multiple formats, distributed through an exclusive partnership with LPM (Lee Precious Metals). Starting with Zeus, the bullion series has expanded to include Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Ares, Apollo, and Artemis. The 100-piece gold mintage makes Gods of Olympus gold among the rarest regular Perth Mint bullion issues. By comparison, Perth Mint Lunar gold coins are produced in the tens of thousands. The Tuvalu Dollar is pegged to the Australian Dollar, and Tuvalu (population approximately 11,000) is one of the world's smallest nations, licensing its currency to mints worldwide for commemorative and bullion issues.

Gods of Olympus Gold Specifications

Bullion Series Releases (2020 onward)

Silver versions are produced in substantially larger quantities across multiple formats: 13,500 for the 1 oz BU, 1,500 for the 1 oz antiqued, and 450 for the 5 oz BU. A 5 oz antiqued version limited to just 50 pieces is one of the most exclusive Perth Mint products available to retail collectors. Each reverse carries the Perth Mint "P" mint mark alongside dramatic classical scenes drawn from Greek mythology. The obverse initially featured the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the reign dates "1952-2022" added following her death, with newer issues transitioning to the King Charles III effigy. The Tuvalu Dollar is pegged 1:1 to the Australian Dollar, and Tuvalu (population approximately 11,000) is one of the world's smallest nations. It licenses its currency denomination authority to mints worldwide for commemorative and bullion issues, a common practice among Pacific Island nations.

Gods of Olympus Gold Tax and Legal Status

The Gods of Olympus gold coins are legal tender of Tuvalu with face values in Tuvalu Dollars, pegged 1:1 to the Australian Dollar. Tuvalu is a sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth. The 999.9 fine gold purity and sovereign legal tender status provide strong tax classification grounds across most jurisdictions.

• United Kingdom: Gold coins from sovereign nations with purity of 995+ fineness that are legal tender in their country of origin generally qualify as investment gold and are VAT-exempt to purchase. The 999.9 purity and Tuvalu legal tender status meet these criteria. Not UK legal tender, so no CGT exemption. Gains subject to Capital Gains Tax at the individual's rate (18% basic, 24% higher), with the £3,000 annual allowance. Eligible for SIPP inclusion.
• United States: The 999.9 purity comfortably exceeds the IRS 99.5% minimum for gold IRA eligibility. Tuvalu is a recognised sovereign government for custodian purposes, and Perth Mint products carry strong brand recognition among US IRA custodians. State sales tax varies; around 35 states exempt precious metals. Federal capital gains at the collectibles rate of 28% for long-term holdings.
• Canada: Gold of 99.5%+ purity is GST/HST exempt. Capital gains taxed at the 50% inclusion rate (66.67% above CAD 250,000 annually since June 2024).
• Australia: As Tuvalu legal tender struck by the Perth Mint, these coins may qualify for GST exemption under Australia's investment gold rules (coins of 99.5%+ purity that are or were legal tender, selling at no more than 50% above gold content value). The Perth Mint's domestic presence supports classification. A 50% CGT discount applies for holdings over 12 months.
• Singapore: Qualifies as IPM (Investment Precious Metals) for GST exemption based on the 999.9 purity and sovereign legal tender status. LPM (Lee Precious Metals) has strong distribution in Singapore for this series. No capital gains tax.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax on gold of any kind. Strong availability through LPM's Hong Kong operations.

From Ancient Greece to Perth Mint Bullion

The twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, residing on Mount Olympus according to ancient mythology. They were widely worshipped across the Greek world from approximately the 8th century BC onward, and their stories, recorded by Homer, Hesiod, and later Roman writers, became the foundation of Western literary tradition. The Perth Mint's series draws on this rich visual tradition, with each coin presenting a god or goddess in classical pose with their associated symbols and mythological scenes.

The original 2014 antiqued series was a significant milestone for the Perth Mint, as it marked their first-ever antiqued coin production. The inaugural trilogy of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades (the three brothers who divided the cosmos in Greek mythology, ruling sky, sea, and underworld respectively) was followed by the complete twelve-deity set in 2016-2017. Each 2 oz antiqued coin had a mintage of approximately 1,500 pieces and commanded substantial premiums above silver spot.

The bullion relaunch in 2020 made the series accessible to a broader market through the LPM distribution partnership. Starting again with Zeus, the series has been expanding beyond the original three to include Hera (queen of the gods), Ares (god of war), Apollo (god of light, music, and prophecy), and Artemis (goddess of the hunt). The seventh bullion release in 2023 (Ares) was notable because expectations in the collecting community had been that the series would pivot to Norse mythology; instead, it continued with Greek gods not covered in the original trilogy. The trajectory suggests the bullion series may eventually encompass all twelve major Olympians.

Gods of Olympus Gold vs Other Mythology and Perth Mint Gold

The 100-piece annual mintage places Gods of Olympus gold in the same ultra-limited category as the Equatorial Guinea Giraffe (also 100 pieces) and the EIC Queen's Virtues (250 pieces). At these production levels, the coins function as collectibles backed by gold content rather than standard investment products. Resale relies on specialist dealers and collector demand rather than the mainstream bullion market.

Within the Perth Mint's own gold range, the Lunar series is the natural comparison. Lunar gold coins are produced in the tens of thousands with multiple size options from 1/20 oz to 1 kg, offering broad dealer availability, competitive premiums, and established liquidity. The Lunar series changes its design annually (following the Chinese zodiac), giving it collectibility alongside investment utility. For pure gold investment, the Lunar series is the practical choice. Gods of Olympus serves the collector who wants Perth Mint production quality, mythological themes, and extreme scarcity, and who accepts the premium and narrower resale market that entails.

The Royal Mint's Myths and Legends series (Robin Hood, Merlin, Morgan le Fay) offers a thematic parallel in British mythology. As UK legal tender, these coins carry CGT exemption in the UK that the Tuvalu-issued Gods of Olympus lacks. The Royal Mint also benefits from broader UK dealer distribution. For British buyers valuing tax efficiency, the Myths and Legends series or the 1oz Gold Britannia are more practical. The Gods of Olympus appeals primarily to collectors internationally, with particular strength in the Asia-Pacific market through LPM's distribution network in Hong Kong and Singapore, where the tax-free environments make the legal tender distinction less relevant.