2024 Australia Lunar Series III Year of the Dragon 1oz Gold Proof Coin

The fifth year of The Perth Mint’s highly anticipated Australian Lunar Series III is marked by the release of stunning 1oz gold proof quality coins portraying the next animal in the zodiac, the dragon.

According to Chinese tradition, the emperor ordered a great race between all the animals on Earth to determine who should occupy 12 positions on the lunar calendar. To complete the course, each animal had to cross a fast-flowing river. While leading the race, the noble dragon stopped to make rain for the people, ultimately reaching the opposite bank in fifth place.

Those born under the sign of the Chinese Lunar Dragon in 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976 and every 12th preceding year, are said to be ambitious, successful, and charismatic.

Meticulously struck from 99.99% pure gold in proof quality, no more than 1,000 1oz coins will be released in this packaging.

The coins are issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The coin’s reverse portrays a dragon, waves, and stylised fog. Included in the design is the Chinese character for ‘dragon’, the inscription, ‘DRAGON 2024’ and The Perth Mint’s ‘P125’ mintmark signifying The Perth Mint’s 125th anniversary.

The coin bears the Jody Clark Memorial Obverse of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II supplemented with the dates of her reign ‘1952-2022’, as well as the weight and fineness, and the monetary denomination.

Each coin is presented in a prestigious red display case with a magnetic lid. Adorned with gold lettering and a geometric design, the case is packaged in a beautifully illustrated shipper portraying the story of how the dragon became the fifth animal in the zodiac, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The shippers of future animals in the Lunar Series III will, when arrayed together, form a diorama depicting the ancient myth of The Great Race, which tells how the zodiac came into being.