Product Description
Specifications
Product Overview
The 1999 Australian Lunar Rabbit 1oz Gold Coin was issued by The Perth Mint as part of the original Australian Lunar Gold Coin Series, now known as Lunar Series I. Struck from 1 troy ounce of 99.99% pure gold, the coin celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal in the traditional Chinese zodiac.
The reverse depicts a rabbit surrounded by grass, accompanied by the Chinese character for rabbit, the inscription YEAR OF THE RABBIT and The Perth Mint's traditional P mintmark. The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II together with the coin's $100 denomination.
With a reported mintage of 18,261 coins, the 1999 Rabbit forms part of the first generation of Australian Lunar gold coins produced by The Perth Mint.
This example is supplied in its original protective capsule. Due to the age of the product, the original packaging may display superficial marks or signs of storage.
Key Features
- Contains 1 troy ounce of 99.99% pure gold (.9999 fine)
- Issued by The Perth Mint in 1999
- Part of the original Australian Lunar Series I
- Celebrates the Year of the Rabbit
- Australian legal tender with a denomination of $100
- Reverse features a rabbit surrounded by grass
- Features the traditional P mintmark
- Obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's Queen Elizabeth II effigy
- Reported mintage of 18,261 coins
- Supplied in its original protective capsule
Design & Craftsmanship
Manufacturing
The 1999 Lunar Rabbit was struck by The Perth Mint in Western Australia from 99.99% pure gold.
The coin has a gross weight of approximately 31.1 grams, containing a full 1 troy ounce of fine gold. Its bullion finish combines detailed relief with the broad, clean fields characteristic of Perth Mint's early Lunar gold releases.
At approximately 32.1mm in diameter, the coin provides a compact format for its full troy ounce of gold.
Design
Obverse
The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced on Australian coinage in 1999.
The portrait depicts the Queen facing right and wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. The surrounding inscriptions identify ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, the coin's 100 DOLLARS denomination and its gold weight and purity.
Reverse
The reverse celebrates the Year of the Rabbit with a rabbit depicted among grass.
The design also incorporates the Chinese character for rabbit, the inscription YEAR OF THE RABBIT and The Perth Mint's traditional P mintmark.
The relatively uncluttered composition places the Rabbit prominently at the centre of the design, creating a distinctly different aesthetic from the later interpretations of the Rabbit produced for Lunar Series II and III.
The Australian Lunar Series I
The Perth Mint's original Australian Lunar Gold Coin Series was launched in 1996 with the Year of the Mouse and became the first of the Mint's three major Lunar bullion series.
Inspired by the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, the program introduced a new animal design for each Lunar year. The 1999 Rabbit represented the fourth release in the sequence, following the Mouse, Ox and Tiger.
The complete Lunar Series I gold program ultimately featured all twelve zodiac animals before concluding with the Year of the Pig.
The series established a format that The Perth Mint would subsequently continue with Lunar Series II and the current Lunar Series III, with each new series providing fresh interpretations of the traditional zodiac animals.
The 1999 Rabbit therefore represents an early chapter in what became one of The Perth Mint's most recognisable precious-metal coin programs.
The Year of the Rabbit
The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac, following the Tiger and preceding the Dragon.
The Chinese zodiac follows a repeating twelve-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. Rabbit years include 1999, 2011 and 2023, as well as earlier years at twelve-year intervals.
Traditional Chinese zodiac interpretations associate people born in Rabbit years with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, vigilance and compassion.
For collectors, the Lunar format creates a direct connection between the coin's year of issue and its zodiac animal, making individual releases particularly relevant to people born in the corresponding Lunar year.
Why Choose a Lunar Series I Gold Coin?
Lunar Series I coins combine the gold content of an Australian bullion coin with changing annual designs drawn from the Chinese zodiac.
The 1999 Rabbit has the additional distinction of belonging to The Perth Mint's original Lunar program. Its design differs completely from the Rabbit artwork subsequently created for Lunar Series II and Lunar Series III, making each generation a distinct interpretation of the same zodiac theme.
With a reported mintage of 18,261, the 1oz Rabbit also represents a relatively small production run compared with many contemporary bullion coin programs.
Condition & Packaging
This coin is supplied in its original protective capsule.
As an original product dating from 1999, the capsule or associated packaging may display superficial marks, scuffs or other signs of storage and ageing.
These packaging characteristics should be considered consistent with the age of the product and may vary between individual examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 1999 Lunar Rabbit Australian legal tender?
Yes. The coin was issued as Australian legal tender and carries a face value of $100 AUD.
Does this coin come in a capsule?
Yes. This product is supplied in its original protective capsule. Because of its age, the capsule or packaging may show superficial marks or signs of storage.
