AUSTRALIAN LUNAR COIN SERIES II 2012 YEAR OF THE DRAGON GOLD PROOF COLOURED COINS - Perth Mint Australia

In 2012, The Perth Mint’s internationally renowned Australian Lunar Gold Proof Coin Series II celebrates the auspicious Year of the Dragon, the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

The birth dates for people ruled by the Chinese Lunar dragon include 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012. Those born under the influence of this sign are said to be confident, enterprising, independent, self-assured, brave, and passionate.

Proof Quality 99.99% Pure Gold

Each coin is meticulously struck from 99.99% pure gold in proof quality.

2012 Year of the Dragon Design

Each coin’s reverse depicts a coloured dragon with a representation of a ‘pearl of wisdom’. The Chinese character for ‘dragon’ and the inscription YEAR OF THE DRAGON also appear in the design with The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as Australian legal tender, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2012 year-date and the monetary denomination are shown on the obverse of each coin.

Extremely Limited Mintage

The Perth Mint will release no more than 5,000 1oz coins, 5,000 1/4oz coins and 5,000 1/10oz coins.

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

A numbered Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin.

Stunning Presentation Display Case

Gold Proof Lunar coins are housed in elegant oval-shaped display cases, featuring a glossy timber-effect lid and presented in coloured illustrated shippers.

Technical Specifications

Coin Weights available	1	1/4	1/10
Gold Content (Troy oz)	1	0.25	0.10
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	100	25	15
Fineness (% purity)	99.99	99.99	99.99
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	31.112	7.777	3.111
Maximum Diameter (mm)	39.34	22.60	18.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	2.50	2.20	2.00

AUSTRALIAN LUNAR COIN SERIES II 2012 YEAR OF THE DRAGON GOLD PROOF COLOURED COINS - Perth Mint Australia

Australia a Gold Standard Country: BHP

Amid the global economic turmoil and credit squeeze, Australia remains a gold standard country to invest in, says BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers.

Mr Kloppers said he was cautious about 2012 and its "risk premia" along with shortages in a skilled workforce in Australia, but was optimistic about long-term commodity demand, tied to China's economy.

BHP Billiton delivered a $US9.941 billion ($A9.23 billion) first-half profit on Monday, more than half of it driven by the company's most profitable division, its iron ore operations in Western Australia.

"If we think in the long run we are very fortunate as a country in these unstable times in terms of international credit availability and amounts of investment," Mr Kloppers told reporters in a teleconference.

"I said to somebody the other day that Australia was the gold standard and has been the gold standard and therefore has the very best companies in the world operating here."

Those companies were more likely to continue investing through the cycle than smaller companies, which currently had funding difficulties, he said.

No changes have been announced to the company's $US80 billion ($A74.30 billion) budget for growth projects.

An investment decision on the $US21.66 billion ($A20 billion) Olympic Dam expansion - the world's biggest open cut mine - is still due in mid-2012, while BHP is still planning to increase iron ore production to 350 million tonnes a year by 2020 (it is currently 178mtpa).

Last month it committed $US779 million ($A723.51 million) to building an outer harbour at Port Hedland for shipments.

The current leadership instability in the Gillard Government or prospects for a change of government was not a major concern for miners doing business in Australia, he said.

"What is important to us is that we don't get discontinuities like we nearly had with the MRRT (Mineral Resources Rent Tax) two years ago," he said.

"We must continue to ensure we've got a long-term flexible, productive, highly innovative technologically advanced workforce.

"That is probably something which occupies a significant share of mind at the moment."

The proposed merger between Anglo-Swiss groups Xstrata and major shareholder and trading house Glencore was not a concern, with BHP pursuing different assets that were only tier-one, long-life and low-cost, he said.

2012 UK GOLD PROOF QUARTER-SOVEREIGN - THE Royal Mint

This 2012 quarter-sovereign bears a brilliant new design especially commissioned to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
An ideal gift to mark a birthday, graduation or special occasion. The first quarter-sovereign was struck by the Royal Mint on behalf of collectors in 2009 and has become a firm favourite ever since.

Proof Quality 22-Carat Gold

The coin is struck by the Royal Mint from 22-carat red gold in proof quality.

St George and the Dragon Reverse

The coin’s reverse features a brilliant new St George and the dragon design by Paul Day.

United Kingdom Legal Tender

Depicting the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse, the coin is issued as legal tender of the United Kingdom.

Presentation Packaging

The coin is presented in a luxurious walnut-veneer display case and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Limited Release

This limited edition presentation is restricted to a mintage of 10,744.


Buy the 2012 UK Gold Proof Quarter-Sovereign at The Perth Mint, featuring:

• Proof Quality 22-Carat Red Gold
• St George and the Dragon Reverse
• United Kingdom Legal Tender
• Presentation Packaging
• Limited Release – 10,744
• Numbered Certificate of Authenticity