The Perth Mint in Australia launched its Lunar Series in 1996 with the Year of the Rat. The series is based on the Chinese 12 year lunar calendar which dates back to 2600 BC. Each year or the calendar is named after an animal and each animal is in turn governed by one of the five Chinese elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. An element appears with an animal one time in every 60 years. The dragon is the only mythical animal in the calendar and the Chinese believe it bestows the greatest benefits. It is a symbol of power, authority, wisdom and advancement and children born under the sign are said to have success, happiness and prosperity. The year 2000 was the first time in 3000 years that a metal element dragon coincided with the millennium. Children born in the year are said to be able to have everything they touch turn to gold.
The Perth Mint produced 1 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/10 ounce ounce and 1/20 ounce sizes of the 2000 Dragon .9999 Gold Coin. The 1 ounce size for the year 2000 was the only coin to reach its production cap of 30,000. In the 1/4 ounce size, there was a mintage cap of 60,000 but only 20,148 were produced. The 1/4 ounce size is also valued for its use in jewelry. All of the Lunar Series coins are originally sold at bullion value. Coins like the 1 ounce size of the 2000 dragon sell for a premium in the secondary collector market. A June 2011 sale price for the 1/4 ounce 2000 Dragon Gold Coin was listed at $685.00
DESCRIPTION
The Lunar Series gold coins are known as reverse proofs meaning that the fields are frosted and the devices or figures are deeply mirrored. All the coins are .9999 fine gold and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act of 1965. The coins are sold in protected hard plastic capsules.
The obverse or front side of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by artist Ian Rank Broadley. Underneath the queen is printed 25 DOLLARS. The words ELIZABETH II appear to the left of the queen and AUSTRALIA to her right.
The reverse side features the full figure of dragon in the clouds holding the pearl of wisdom. On the left side of the coin is the Mint year 2000. On the upper right side of the coin is the Chinese character for dragon. Beneath the dragon are the words 1/4 OZ 9999 GOLD.