Add Australian Lunar Coins To Your Coin Collection

Most collectors value the Australia coins immensely and wait eagerly for all new issues, especially the limited edition versions. Amongst all the other collections, the Australian lunar coins occupy a pride of place due to their exquisite designs, superb craftsmanship, and other attractions. These pieces are a collector's delight as they are based on the Chinese lunar calendar and serve as unparalleled gifts to friends, especially the Chinese. The first one was minted in 1998 and was based on the rabbit, which is one of the twelve animals on which the Chinese lunar calendar is based. Every year a new animal is represented on the lunar Australian coins, the ox being the theme for 2009 and the tiger will take its royal place in 2010.

The Chinese culture places great importance on its lunar calendar as it is used extensively for all festive occasions, especially the New Year celebrations. Depending on a person's year of birth, the Australian lunar coin matching with the relevant animal year is considered as a special New Year gift that is supposed to bring health, wealth, and happiness. Collecting these exquisite pieces provides a person with a good investment, both from the point of view of profitability and of the richness of his collection.

Apart from the above advantages, the Australian coins that depict different traits of the Chinese mythological characters are considered to be highly valuable and are in great demand. The different traits are wealth, health, money, success, and longevity and these are an intrinsic part of the basic Chinese culture, folklore, heritage, and artwork.

The value of these pieces increases considerably if they are produced in limited quantities as there is more demand than the actual availability. Collecting these lunar pieces, whether they are made from gold or from silver, can prove to be very advantageous. Moreover, they serve as great gift items for anyone of Chinese culture and are held in high regard, whether they are given as personal gifts or for business purposes.

Many Australia coins in the lunar series are now being produced in a completely unique and innovative way. Gemstones are now embedded into them by sealing them in a window and then setting the gemstones in the metal. The value of these pieces increases significantly with the inclusion of the gemstones besides giving them a rich and beautiful look. Diamonds have been set in both the lunar series, especially in the one kilogram version. Collecting these pieces offers a great advantage as the collector is insured against the drop in price of the basic metal because of the presence of the diamond or any other gemstone. It is obvious that these pieces are in great demand and they sell out faster.

The Australia coins in the Chinese lunar calendar series basically consist of twelve coins that correspond to the twelve animals. The Perth Mint also produces the multiple series beginning with the lunar pieces in 1997. The silver and gilded pieces were introduced in 1999 and currently, this Mint is coming out with the series II pieces. Various versions have been released by the Perth Mint such as the proof, the proof-like colorized, and the gilded silver ones that have a size of one Troy ounce. Many other varieties have also been introduced much to the delight of the collectors.