2018 Australian Year of the Dog Lunar Coins

2018 Australian Year of the Dog Lunar Coins

The 2018 Australian Lunar Year of the Dog coin designs have been unveiled and we're sure that you are going to love them! These Chinese Lunar calendar coins are the eleventh animal, of the twelve year cycle. It is also the penultimate coin in the Perth Mint’s second series of lunar coins. 

As usual, there are two different designs, one for the silver series of coins, and one for the gold. Both of the dog designs were produced by the Perth Mint designer, Ing Ing Jong. 

Lunar Animals

The Year of the Dog officially begins on 16^th February, 2018. 

Each zodiac sign fits into one of the elements; earth, wood, fire, gold and water. 2018 is the year of the earth dog. Those born during this lunar sign are said to be loyal, honest and kind and maybe a little stubborn. 

This combination of lunar animal and element only happens once every 60 years.

 Silver Year of the Dog Design Revealed

2018 Australian Lunar Year of the Dog Silver Coins

The silver coin depicts a German Shepherd and a puppy, lying in the grass. The Chinese character for ‘dog’ appears next to some Chinese peony flowers. The peony is the unofficial Chinese National Flower. It stands as a symbol of spring and female beauty and reproduction. It also represents richness, honour and high social class. It is a favored flower for the 12th wedding anniversary. ‘Year of the Dog’ is written underneath. The Perth Mint mintmark appears on the right of the design.

The silver coins are issued in a range of sizes; 1/2oz, 1oz, 2oz, 5oz, 10oz, 1kg and 10kg. The popular one ounce silver coin will have a limited mintage of just 300,000. 

Gold Year of the Dog Design Revealed

2018 Australian Lunar Year of the Dog Gold Coins

The gold coin shows a Labrador Retriever standing next to a pine tree. Again, the Chinese character for ‘dog’ and the text ‘Year of the Dog’ are displayed on the coin. The Perth Mint ‘P’ mintmark can be found on the left side of the coin. 

We will be stocking the gold coins in 1/20oz, 1/10oz, 1/4oz, 1/2oz, 1oz and 2oz sizes. The 10oz and 1kg sizes can be sourced to order. The 1oz gold coin will have a mintage of just 30,000.

Ian Rank Broadley Obverse

The obverse of the gold and silver coins is the fourth coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley. This was replaced on UK coinage in 2015, with the fifth coinage portrait, by Jody Clark. The Perth Mint have kept the fourth portrait so that all the coins in the second series feature the same obverse design.

Dog Facts

To celebrate the Year of the Dog we thought we'd research some amazing facts about man's best friends. 

• The reason dogs have wet noses it that it helps them absorb scent chemicals. Proportionally speaking, a dogs sense of smell is 40 times greater than ours.
  
  
• Dogs recognise the smell of a range of organic compounds that show the human body isn’t working as it should. This means they can actually smell diseases, such as cancer. Furthermore, they can spot early signs of diabetes, or an epileptic seizure.
  
  
• The most popular dog in the UK is the Labrador.
  
  
• Dogs only have sweat glands in their paws which is why the rely on panting to cool themselves down.
  
  
• When dogs go to the bathroom, they prefer to do it in alignment with the Earth's magnetic field.
  
  
• A dog’s nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint.
  
  
• Dogs really are a mans best friends. It's thought that around 30,000 years ago, our ancestors established the close bond by taming wolves.
  
  
• Dogs' eyes contain a special membrane called Tapetum lucidum, which allows dogs to see in the dark.
  
  
• Dogs can hear four times as far as humans.
  
  
• More than 12 separate muscles control a dog’s ear movements.

Back Dated Lunar Coins

We stock a wide range of lunar coins from previous years including the 2006 Year of the Dog gold coins in both plain and coloured finishes. 

2006 Year of the Dog gold coins

If you are looking to add back dated lunar coins to your collection, don't delay as some sizes sell very quickly.