2000 Perth Mint Gold Dragons
One-ounce Perth Mint Gold Dragons have become the most successful gold coins launched in recent years. Initially sold at bullion coin prices, 1-oz Gold Dragons have achieved coin collectible status and now sell at significant premiums in the secondary market.
Gold Dragons are the fourth coin in The Perth Mint’s 12-coin Lunar Series, which started in 1996 with the Year of the Rat. Although The Perth Mint aims the Lunar Series at the coin collectible market, the 1-oz gold coins are offered at bullion coin prices. All the gold coins in the Lunar Series are minted of .9999 fine gold, and each coin comes individually encapsulated in plastic protective capsules.
Adding to the coin collectible appeal, production of all the 1-oz gold coins in the Lunar Series is limited to 30,000 coins. The 1-oz Gold Dragons were the first coins to reach the 30,000-coin production cap and now can be purchased only in the secondary market. CMIGS usually has 1-oz Gold Dragons available.
CMIGS is proud in having played a major role in popularizing the Lunar Series in the U.S. We sold more than 10,000 of the 30,000 1-oz Gold Dragons minted. Additionally, we sold more than 11,000 year 2002 1-oz Gold Horses, which reached their production cap in October 2004. Premiums on one-ounce Gold Horses have begun climbing as they join 1-oz Gold Dragons as popularcollectible coins.
Gold bullion coin buyers made astute choices when they purchased 1-oz Gold Dragon coins while The Perth Mint was still producing them. The Perth Mint sold out of 1-oz Gold Dragons in 2002 and they now carry significant premiums in the secondary market.
The Year 2000 Gold Dragon: cornerstone of The Perth Mint Lunar Series
The Year 2000 Gold Dragon is the key coin in The Perth Mint Lunar Series for several reasons. Although the year 2000 was celebrated as the last year of the old millennium, it was the first year of the new millennium. Regardless, coins dated 2000 are unique and often are highly sought after in the collectible coin market.
Although the dragon is considered China’s icon, this mythical creature is immensely popular throughout Asia. As more Asians learn about the Gold Dragons, many are likely to purchase them as mementos or to be turned into jewelry. Coins used for jewelry lose their coin collectible value; therefore, jewelry demand for Lunar Series coins will reduce the number of coins available to the coin collectible market. The use of Lunar Series coins for jewelry is likely to enhance the coins’ collectible status.
The Lunar Series will run through 2007, and more collectors will be enticed by the Series. Because of The Perth Mint’s policy of minting coins until the production cap is met, collectible coin buyers wanting the earlier coins in the Series will be able to buy them at small markups over spot until those coins also reach the 30,000-coin production cap. This unique policy adds to the Lunar Series’ coin collectible appeal.
When the production limit is reached with the 1-oz Lunar Series gold coins, the coins will be available only in the secondary market. All the Lunar Series coins that reach their caps should see premium increases in the secondary market, as have the 1-oz Gold Dragons and the 1-oz Gold Horses.
Finally, China will host the 2008 Summer Olympics. This will introduce the entire world to the China’s culture, its history, and the things Chinese people hold in esteem, including the Lunar Calendar and the dragon. Demand for The Perth Mint Lunar Series coins for jewelry alone could drive prices higher.
Besides 2000, other Dragon Years are 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, and 1904.
CMIGS does not recommend collectible coins that have already attained big premiums. However, because we sold more that 10,000 1-oz Gold Dragons, we often have clients selling back to us, and that means we usually have Gold Dragons available for buyers of collectible coins.
If you would like current prices on Gold Dragons, or if you would like to discuss Gold Dragons or any coins of the Lunar Series, call us a 1-800-528-1380. For more information on the Lunar Series, visit our Perth Mint Lunar Series Overview.