First issued in 1995 and now in its third round, the long-running Australian Lunar Coin Series celebrates the animals of the Chinese zodiac with a sequence of annual designs portraying the mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. These 2021 coins celebrate the Year of the Ox, whose rule over every second year in the 12-year lunar cycle is said to influence people born during 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 and 2021. 

Appealing Ox Reverse

Each coin’s reverse portrays a charming image of an ox and its calf with a cherry blossom tree, a symbol of love and beauty. The design includes the inscription OX 2021, the Chinese character for ‘ox’ and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

Issue Limits and Mintage

Just 5,000 1oz coins will be issued individually from a maximum mintage of 7,500 and 4,000 individual 1/2oz coins from a maximum mintage of 5,000. Additionally, 1,000 Three-Coin Sets will be released comprising 2oz, 1oz and 1/2oz coins. (The 2oz coin has a maximum mintage of 2,000).

Themed Shipper

Accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, each release comes in a classic display case with a clear lid and an illustrated shipper. When aligned with the previous Year of the Mouse shipper and future shippers from the series, the illustration forms a diorama depicting all 12 animals in the order the finished The Great Race, a traditional Chinese story about the creation of the lunar calendar.