1 oz Perth Mint Lunar Silver Round

Three Decades of Chinese Zodiac Silver from Perth

The 1 oz Perth Mint Lunar silver round belongs to the longest-running lunar zodiac bullion programme from any Western mint. Perth Mint launched the gold Lunar series in 1996 and added silver from 1999 (Series I) onward, making this a programme now spanning three complete 12-year zodiac cycles: Series I (1996-2007), Series II (2008-2019), and Series III (2020-2031, currently in production). Each year features a new design depicting the corresponding Chinese zodiac animal.

The series was designed specifically for the Asian-Pacific market, where the Chinese lunar calendar carries cultural significance for gift-giving and investment timing. Dragon years (2000, 2012, 2024) consistently sell out fastest and command the highest secondary market premiums, reflecting the dragon's status as the most auspicious zodiac animal. Early Series I coins from 1996-1999 are particularly scarce and trade at substantial premiums over their silver content.

Current Series III silver Lunar coins are .9999 fine (four nines), an upgrade from Series I's .999 standard. The purity was upgraded mid-Series II (2017) from three nines to four nines. Series III also introduced micro-laser security engraving and a "P" mintmark, bringing authentication features that earlier series lacked entirely. All coins are Australian legal tender under the Currency Act 1965, with a $1 AUD face value for the 1 oz silver.

Perth Lunar Silver Specifications Across Series

Dimensional Changes Between Series

A notable physical difference exists between the three series. Series II coins are substantially wider (45.6 mm) and thinner (2.6 mm) than both Series I and III (40.6 mm diameter). This means storage tubes from one series will not necessarily fit coins from another. Series III reverted to the Series I diameter but at a different thickness (3.21 mm vs 4.0 mm). Collectors assembling cross-series sets should be aware of these incompatibilities in standard tube storage.

The Zodiac Cycle

Each 12-year series covers: Rat/Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat/Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Series III is currently running (2020 Rat through to 2031 Pig), with the 2024 Dragon and 2025 Snake already released. The 2026 coin is Year of the Horse.

Perth Lunar Silver Tax Position by Country

The Perth Lunar is Australian legal tender from a sovereign mint, but silver bullion receives no special VAT/GST exemption in most jurisdictions regardless of legal tender status. The coin's investment credentials are relevant for retirement account eligibility.

• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver (.9999 purity exceeds the .999 threshold). Subject to CGT on disposal with 50% discount for holdings over 12 months. There is no CGT exemption for Australian legal tender bullion (unlike UK Britannias). Perth Mint offers depository storage for domestic residents.
• United States: IRA-eligible. The .9999 silver purity exceeds the IRS .999 threshold for precious metals IRAs. Must be held by an approved custodian. Capital gains taxed at the 28% collectibles rate. State sales tax varies.
• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt (only UK legal tender coins receive CGT exemption). Popular among UK collectors seeking zodiac-themed silver beyond the standard bullion offerings.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt as qualifying bullion coin at .999+ purity from a recognised mint. May be held in RRSPs through approved dealers.
• European Union: Silver subject to local VAT rates. Perth Lunar gold coins typically appear on the EU's annual Gold Coins List for VAT exemption, but the silver versions carry standard silver VAT.
• Singapore: GST-exempt under the Investment Precious Metals scheme for qualifying silver coins.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax. Strong demand in the region given the cultural significance of the Chinese zodiac.

From 1996 Gold Pioneer to Three-Generation Programme

The Perth Mint was the first major Western mint to produce a bullion programme celebrating the Chinese lunar calendar. The gold Lunar launched in 1996 with the Year of the Mouse (Rat), predating similar programmes from the Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, and others by many years. The silver version followed in 1999 for the final years of Series I.

Series I (1996-2007) used simpler, traditional designs with a pimpled (dotted) border and Chinese character for the zodiac animal. The reverse designers included Tony Dean (1996 Mouse, 2000 Dragon), Jovan Radanovich (1997 Ox), Louise Pinder (1999 Rabbit), and Travis Farley (2002 Horse, 2003 Goat). These early coins had relatively low mintages compared to later series, and pre-1999 gold-only years are now quite scarce.

Series II (2008-2019) introduced more complex, detailed designs and moved away from the pimpled border. Some years featured multiple animals on the reverse (the Monkey, Dog, and Goat years). The silver Lunar's diameter expanded to 45.6 mm for this series. Purity was upgraded from .999 to .9999 starting with the 2017 Rooster, an unusual mid-series specification change.

Series III (2020-2031) represents the most refined iteration: the highest purity (.9999 throughout), the most intricate designs incorporating landscape elements around the zodiac animal, and the first security features (micro-laser engraving and P mintmark). The obverse transitioned from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III in 2024. The 10 kg gold coin (with a mintage of just 6 pieces in the 2007 Pig Series I) stands as one of the rarest modern bullion coins ever produced.

Perth Lunar vs Other Zodiac and Collector Silver

The Perth Lunar competes most directly with other Chinese zodiac-themed silver from sovereign and private mints, plus the Perth Mint's own annual-design silver offerings.

Against the 1 oz Chinese Silver Panda, both feature Chinese cultural themes with annually changing designs. The Perth Lunar is .9999 fine (Series III) versus .999 for the Panda, and contains a full troy ounce versus the post-2016 Panda's 30 grams. The Perth Lunar has clearer provenance (single mint, P mintmark) and better security features. The Panda has higher counterfeiting risk. Both command collector premiums above generic silver, though specific year premiums vary based on zodiac animal popularity and mintage.

Against the 1 oz PAMP Suisse Lunar silver round, the Perth Lunar offers legal tender status, micro-laser security, and .9999 purity where PAMP provides .999, Veriscan smartphone authentication, and CertiPAMP sealed packaging. The Perth Mint's longer track record (since 1996) gives it stronger collector recognition; PAMP's Lunar began in 2012. Perth coins are more liquid on the secondary market; PAMP bars are better packaged for gift presentation.

Against the 1 oz Perth Silver Kangaroo, both are .9999 Perth Mint silver with annual designs. The Kangaroo has unlimited mintage and lower premiums; the Lunar has more controlled availability and stronger collector demand for specific years. The Kangaroo is the better pure bullion play; the Lunar is for buyers who value the zodiac theme and numismatic potential of key dates (particularly Dragon years).