Guardian Lions Gold

Perth Mint's Double Pixiu: Wealth and Fortune in .9999 Gold

The Guardian Lions series from the Perth Mint features the Double Pixiu, mythical Chinese guardian lion creatures, first issued in 2020 as part of the mint's broader programme of Asian-culture-themed bullion. The series ran across two years: a silver release in 2020 and a gold release in 2021, both designed by Perth Mint artist Ing Ing Jong. Each coin is issued as Australian legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The Double Pixiu design depicts two guardian lion creatures seated facing each other on a mound of traditional Chinese coins. The male Pixiu (left) grasps an embroidered ball, symbolising supremacy over the world. The female Pixiu (right) restrains a playful cub, symbolising nurture and protection. An ornamental oriental border frames the composition. The design draws on centuries of Chinese Buddhist tradition: guardian lions have been placed at the entrances of palaces, temples, tombs, and homes as protective guardians since ancient times.

The series was originally distributed exclusively through LPM (Lee Precious Metals) in Hong Kong, reflecting its deliberate Asian-market positioning. The 2020 silver bullion coin had a mintage of 50,000 pieces; the 2021 gold bullion coin was limited to 5,000 pieces. Both were also produced in 2 oz high-relief proof versions with significantly lower mintages (1,000 silver, 250 gold). The series sits alongside the Perth Mint's other Asian-themed programmes, including the Lunar series and the Dragon and Phoenix series, all targeting the substantial Chinese and East Asian precious metals market.

Guardian Lions Specifications

All coins are struck in .9999 purity (four nines), consistent with the Perth Mint's standard for its entire bullion range. This purity level is higher than the .999 used by most other mints for silver, including the US Mint, South African Mint, and Austrian Mint. Perth Mint's across-the-board four-nines commitment applies to its silver as well as its gold, which is a distinguishing feature of the mint's output.

The bullion versions include a micro-laser-engraved security mark visible only under magnification, the Perth Mint "P" mintmark, and government-guaranteed weight and purity under the Australian Currency Act 1965. The silver BU ships in a protective capsule with a Certificate of Authenticity. The high-relief proof versions feature dramatically raised design elements that create a three-dimensional sculptural effect, giving Ing Ing Jong's Double Pixiu composition a physical depth that the flat bullion strike cannot replicate. Proof versions ship in wooden presentation boxes with individually numbered Certificates of Authenticity.

The 2 oz gold proof at just 250 pieces with a face value of $250 AUD is one of the more exclusive Perth Mint modern issues. Aftermarket gilded variants exist (produced by third-party modifiers applying selective gold plating or colouring to the silver BU coins), but these are not Perth Mint products and the modification voids any Perth Mint guarantee.

Guardian Lions Tax Treatment by Country

As Australian legal tender with .9999 purity, the Guardian Lions coins qualify for favourable tax treatment in most bullion markets. Gold and silver versions are treated differently in jurisdictions that exempt gold but tax silver.

• Australia: Gold is GST-free as investment-grade precious metal. Silver is subject to 10% GST. This asymmetry is one of the key reasons gold bullion tends to be more popular with Australian buyers than silver.
• United States: IRA-eligible. The .9999 purity exceeds IRA requirements for both gold (99.5%) and silver (99.9%). No federal sales tax; state exemptions vary. Capital gains taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28% for holdings over one year.
• United Kingdom: Gold versions are VAT-exempt as investment gold. Silver versions are subject to 20% VAT. Not CGT-exempt as the coins are Australian rather than UK legal tender. UK buyers wanting CGT-exempt gold would need the Britannia or Sovereign.
• Hong Kong and Singapore: No GST/VAT on investment-grade precious metals in either jurisdiction. These are the primary target markets for the Guardian Lions, which aligns with the original LPM (Hong Kong) exclusive distribution arrangement.
• Canada: GST/HST-exempt for gold at .9999 purity. Silver also meets the 99.5% threshold for the federal exemption.
• European Union: Gold versions are VAT-exempt under the Investment Gold Directive. Silver is subject to standard local VAT rates.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for gold (99.5%+) and silver (99.9%+) under the fine bullion exemption.

Pixiu: From Buddhist Temples to Bullion

The Pixiu (also called Pi Yao) is a mythical Chinese hybrid creature with the head of a dragon and the body of a lion. Its role in Chinese mythology is directly connected to wealth. According to legend, the Pixiu violated a law of Heaven and was punished by the Jade Emperor, who permanently sealed its rectum. Because the creature could eat gold, silver, and jewels but never expel them, the Pixiu became a symbol of wealth acquisition and preservation. This biological specificity gives the myth a memorable concreteness that has kept it culturally resonant for centuries.

Chinese Guardian Lions, often called Foo Dogs in Western shorthand, originated in Chinese Buddhism and have served as protective statues at the entrances of palaces, temples, tombs, and homes for well over a thousand years. The tradition is that guardian lions come in pairs: the male lion (with a ball under his paw) guards the structure from external threats, while the female lion (with a cub under her paw) protects those dwelling inside. Perth Mint artist Ing Ing Jong faithfully reproduces this pairing on the Guardian Lions coin, with the male grasping an embroidered ball and the female restraining a playful cub, both seated on a mound of traditional Chinese coins.

The Perth Mint's Asian-themed bullion programme reflects the commercial reality that China and the broader East Asian region represent a substantial portion of global gold demand. The Lunar series (now in its third iteration), the Dragon and Phoenix (2017-2020), and the Guardian Lions all target this market. The exclusive initial distribution of the Guardian Lions through LPM in Hong Kong was an unusually focused strategy for Perth Mint, signalling that the series was designed primarily for Asian collectors and investors rather than the broader Western bullion market.

The series appears to be a short run. The 2020 silver and 2021 gold releases have not been followed by confirmed 2022 or later issues. This limited production window, combined with the cultural specificity of the design, positions the Guardian Lions as a niche collectible with potential for premium appreciation among buyers who value both the Pixiu symbolism and the Perth Mint's production quality. Aftermarket gilded variants exist, produced by third-party modifiers using Perth Mint coins as blanks, but these are not Perth Mint products.

Guardian Lions vs Perth Mint Lunar, Chinese Panda, and Asian-Themed Alternatives

The Perth Mint's Lunar series is the most established Asian-themed bullion programme in the world, with production running since 1996 (now in Series III). The Lunar series has much higher mintages (300,000+ for standard bullion), a full range of weights from 1/20 oz to 10 oz, and broad global dealer availability. The Guardian Lions is a more exclusive offering: lower mintages, a single weight option per metal, and distribution originally confined to Hong Kong. For straightforward gold accumulation, the Lunar series is the more practical choice. For collectors specifically interested in Pixiu symbolism or who want a more exclusive Perth Mint Asian design, the Guardian Lions fills a different niche.

The Chinese Silver and Gold Panda from the People's Bank of China is the dominant Asian-origin bullion coin. The Panda has far greater global recognition and liquidity than any Perth Mint Asian-themed coin. It is, however, a Chinese government product, not an Australian one, and some Western buyers prefer the Perth Mint's production standards and assay guarantees.

PAMP Suisse's Lunar-themed bars, including the Good Luck series, compete in the same cultural-gifting space but in bar format rather than coins. PAMP targets Lunar New Year and East Asian traditions with red-themed packaging and auspicious designs. The format difference (bars vs coins) means they serve slightly different buyer preferences, though the underlying market motivation, gold as a culturally significant gift, is the same.

The Guardian Lions' 50,000 silver mintage sits in a productive middle ground: scarce enough to create secondary-market premiums over time but available enough to be found at major dealers (JM Bullion, Silver Gold Bull, and others stock them in the US market). The 5,000-piece gold mintage and the 250-piece gold proof are firmly collector territory.