500g Perth Mint Lunar Silver Coin

The Perth Mint Lunar in Half-Kilo Silver

The 500g Perth Mint Lunar silver coin is the largest metric-weight coin in the Lunar series, containing just over 16 troy ounces of 999 fine silver in a single piece. It sits between the 10 oz and 1 kg denominations and is produced as part of the Perth Mint's long-running Chinese zodiac program, which has run continuously since 1996 across three 12-year cycles. Series III (2020 to 2031) is currently in production, with a new zodiac animal design each year.

For buyers considering this coin, the decision comes down to a few specifics. The half-kilo format offers lower premiums per gram than the smaller 1 oz, 2 oz, or 5 oz Lunars, making it a more cost-effective way to accumulate silver within the Lunar series. At the same time, it retains the collectible appeal of the annually changing zodiac designs, which has historically driven secondary market interest in certain years. Dragon years (2000, 2012, 2024) are consistently the fastest to sell out and command the strongest premiums on the secondary market.

The coin carries a face value of A$15 under the Australian Currency Act 1965 and is struck at the Perth Mint in Western Australia. Current Series III coins feature 99.99% purity (four nines), an upgrade from the 99.9% purity of earlier Series I and most of Series II. This places the Series III 500g Lunar among the purest silver coins available at this weight, matching the purity of the 1 oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf.

Compared to a standard 500g silver bar, the Perth Lunar coin commands a higher premium but offers Australian legal tender status, a recognisable design from one of the world's most established mints, and the kind of collector following that plain bars lack. The reverse design changes every year, and complete zodiac sets in the larger denominations are particularly sought after.

500g Perth Lunar Silver Coin Specifications

Series III Security Features

Series III coins (2020 onward) include a micro-laser engraved letter visible only under magnification, a small "P" mintmark for Perth, and precision-machined radial lines on the coin surface. These features are difficult to replicate and serve as the primary anti-counterfeiting measures. Earlier Series I and II coins at this weight relied solely on the quality of the strike, precise weight, and dimensional accuracy for authentication.

Packaging

The 500g Lunar coin is supplied in an individual protective capsule. At 101 mm in diameter, it is a substantial coin, roughly the same width as a Series I 1 kg Lunar. Collectors building zodiac sets at this weight should note that tube dimensions from one series may differ from another due to slight specification changes between series.

Tax Treatment for 500g Perth Lunar Silver Coins

Silver coins are taxed differently from gold in most jurisdictions, and the Perth Lunar is no exception. The 500g denomination means the tax implications are amplified by the higher unit value.

Australia

The Perth Mint Lunar silver coin qualifies as investment-grade precious metal under Australian tax law, provided it meets the 99.9% purity threshold. Series III coins at 99.99% comfortably exceed this. Investment-grade silver is GST-free in Australia. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, but individuals holding for more than 12 months qualify for a 50% CGT discount. There is no blanket CGT exemption for Australian legal tender bullion coins, unlike the UK treatment of Britannias and Sovereigns.

United Kingdom

Silver bullion attracts 20% VAT in the UK, regardless of legal tender status. This applies to Perth Lunar silver coins. On a 500g coin, the VAT component is significant. Gold Lunars, by contrast, are VAT-free as investment gold. Perth Lunar silver coins are not CGT-exempt in the UK because they lack a sterling face value. Only UK legal tender coins such as the Silver Britannia qualify for CGT exemption.

United States

Perth Lunar silver coins meet the IRS fineness requirement of 99.9% for inclusion in a self-directed precious metals IRA, though the coin must be held by an approved custodian. Capital gains on bullion are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%. State sales tax varies; approximately 35 states exempt bullion purchases.

Canada

Investment-grade silver at 99.9% purity or above is exempt from GST/HST in Canada. The Perth Lunar qualifies. Capital gains are subject to a 50% inclusion rate. Physical bullion is not eligible for RRSPs or TFSAs.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore exempts Investment Precious Metals (IPM) from GST. Silver coins at 99.9% purity that are or were legal tender qualify, and the Perth Lunar meets both criteria. There is no capital gains tax in Singapore. Hong Kong has no sales tax, no import duty, and no capital gains tax on bullion.

European Union

Silver coins are subject to VAT across the EU, with rates ranging from 17% (Luxembourg) to 27% (Hungary). Some countries offer margin scheme taxation on pre-owned coins, reducing the effective rate to the dealer's margin only. Germany applies differential taxation (Differenzbesteuerung) to imported silver coins with legal tender status.

500g Perth Lunar vs Other Large-Format Silver Coins

At 500 grams, the Perth Lunar competes with a small number of silver coins at comparable weights. The most direct comparison is with other coins in the Perth Lunar series itself, specifically the 10 oz (311g) and 1 kg (1,001g) denominations. The 500g sits between these two, offering more silver than the 10 oz at a lower premium per gram, but at roughly half the outlay of a full kilo.

The 5 kg Armenian Noah's Ark is a much larger coin at 5,000 grams, appealing to buyers who want maximum silver per coin. The Noah's Ark has a fixed design year over year, which simplifies authentication but removes the collector dimension. The Perth Lunar's annually changing zodiac design is a meaningful differentiator for buyers who value the combination of bullion and collectibility.

Against plain 500g silver bars from refiners like Heraeus, Umicore, or PAMP, the Perth Lunar commands a higher premium but delivers legal tender status, a globally recognised mint mark, and design variety. For pure metal accumulation at this weight, bars are cheaper per gram. For buyers who want a recognised coin with secondary market appeal, the Perth Lunar is the stronger choice.

The 5 oz Silver Libertad from Mexico's Casa de Moneda is a sovereign coin at 155.5g, roughly a third of the Perth Lunar's weight. The Libertad has much lower annual mintages and commands significantly higher premiums, especially for older years. The two coins serve different buyer profiles: the Libertad for collectors willing to pay for scarcity, the Perth Lunar for those seeking a balance of bullion value and collector interest at a larger size.

Purity is a notable advantage for the Series III Perth Lunar. At 99.99% fine silver, it exceeds the 99.9% standard used by most sovereign silver coins, including the Libertad, the Silver Philharmonic, and the Silver Krugerrand. Only the Silver Maple Leaf matches the Perth Lunar's four-nines purity.