The characters of the Zodiac are featured on a variety of coin series in production today at mints around the world. The Perth Mint in Australia can take credit for generating popularity and demand for these coins courtesy of its Lunar Series I. The sixth coin in the series is the 2001 1 oz Australian Gold Snake, available now from JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- Contains 1 oz of .9999 pure gold
- Issued a face value of $100 (AUD), recognized as legal tender in Australia.
- Protect your investment with a 32mm Air-Tite Coin Holder.
- Ships in a plastic capsule.
- Eligible for use in Precious Metal IRA portfolios.
- Mintage of only 30,000 coins! Click here to see historical Perth Gold Lunar Coin mintages.
China’s Zodiac is a cultural treasure that speaks to the history of the Jade Emperor. After calling a meeting of the world’s animals, just 12 arrived to meet him. The snake arrived sixth to the meeting, and was given the sixth position in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
The Perth Mint introduced the Lunar Series I coins in 1996, and continued the program through 2007. When it was complete, the series featured each of the animals from the Zodiac in a unique image.
On the reverse side of each coin is the image of a snake wrapped around a tree branch. Engravings on the coin include the year of minting, struck vertically along the coin, the weight, purity, and metal content of the coin, as well as the Chinese symbol for snake.
The obverse side of the coin features Ian Rank-Broadley’s iconic right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Gracing the obverse of all Australian legal tender, the Queen’s image is surrounded by the engravings “Elizabeth II,” “Australia,” and the face value of the coin.
The Perth Mint was founded in the late-19th century as the third facility in the United Kingdom’s Royal Mint system on the continent. Today, the Mint is the only remaining facility from British control, and is administered by the government of Western Australia.
If you have questions about this product listing for a JM Bullion associate, we encourage you to reach out to us at 800-276-6508. You can also connect with us online through our live web chat or send us an email. If you are interested in similar products, visit the Australian Gold Coin section of the JM Bullion website.