Overview of the 1998 Australia Gold Lunar Tiger (Series I)

The 1998 Australia Gold Lunar Tiger is a fractional bullion coin struck in .9999 fine gold at a weight of 1/20 troy ounce. Issued by The Perth Mint under Australia's Gold Lunar Series I program, this coin carries legal tender status under Australian law and represents one of the most respected sovereign-minted lunar series in the world. The Tiger issue marked the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac calendar and was released during the series' early years, before the program had established the widespread collector recognition it holds today. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing a standard of quality consistent with The Perth Mint's production at the time of issue.

History and Background

The Gold Lunar Series I was introduced by The Perth Mint in 1996, beginning with the Year of the Mouse and running through 2007 to complete the twelve-year zodiac cycle. Each annual release featured a different zodiac animal, minted in multiple weight denominations ranging from 1/20 oz to one kilogram. The series was among the first sovereign-minted programs to incorporate full zodiac theming as an annual rotation, establishing a model that would be widely imitated. The Perth Mint itself has operated continuously since 1899, making it one of the oldest and most respected mints in the world. Originally established as a branch of the British Royal Mint, it transitioned to Australian state ownership and has since built a global reputation for precision striking and innovative coin design. The Lunar series was instrumental in expanding The Perth Mint's international presence beyond its traditional bullion programs. The 1998 Tiger issue, like others in the Series I lineup, was produced in limited quantities relative to the demand that developed in subsequent years. Early Series I coins have attracted particular attention from collectors seeking to complete the full zodiac run, which adds a layer of collector significance beyond the coin's base metal content.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 1998 Gold Lunar Tiger features a detailed depiction of a tiger rendered with strong naturalistic detail, conveying power and movement within the coin's small but precisely struck surface. The composition incorporates the Chinese character for tiger alongside the year of issue and inscriptions identifying the coin's weight and purity. The overall design reflects the approach The Perth Mint took throughout Series I, favoring representational animal imagery over stylized or abstract interpretations. The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the standard portrait used on Australian legal tender coinage during this period. The effigy is accompanied by the face value denomination and the country of issue. On a coin of this size, both obverse and reverse details are tightly composed, reflecting the technical precision required to maintain clarity at the 1/20 oz scale.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At 1/20 of a troy ounce, this coin occupies the smaller end of the Gold Lunar Series I weight range. That makes it one of the more accessible entry points into the series from a per-coin price standpoint, while still carrying the same .9999 fine gold purity and official Perth Mint production standards as the larger denominations. For collectors building a zodiac set across multiple weight categories, or for buyers who prefer fractional gold over full-ounce purchases, the 1/20 oz format offers a practical way to participate in the series without committing to a higher outlay. The smaller physical size also means this coin is easy to store and handle, fitting standard fractional gold holders and coin flips. For those accumulating multiple pieces across different zodiac years or weight tiers, the consistent format across Series I denominations makes cataloging and storage straightforward.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every coin we sell is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before it reaches a customer. The 1998 Gold Lunar Tiger was struck by The Perth Mint to exacting production standards, with the .9999 fine gold purity directly confirming to LBMA good delivery standards. The Perth Mint's long-standing reputation in the international bullion market reflects decades of consistent quality control and is one of the primary reasons its products trade with confidence across global secondary markets. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we maintain direct relationships with the leading third-party grading services in the numismatic industry. While this particular coin is listed in raw Brilliant Uncirculated condition rather than in a graded holder, buyers interested in professional certification for individual specimens can pursue third-party grading through those channels.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated denotes a coin that has not been in circulation and retains its original mint finish. For a Perth Mint gold coin of this era, BU condition reflects sharp strike definition and surface quality consistent with direct mint production. At this grade, the coin has not been submitted for professional slabbing, so it remains in raw form, which suits both collector and bullion-oriented buyers. Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve surface condition during transit. Tubes of 1/20 oz Gold Lunar coins typically hold 25 pieces, and full box quantities are packaged accordingly in sealed mint packaging. When ordering a single coin or a small quantity, expect delivery in a flip with appropriate protective outer packaging. Specific tube and box counts for this issue may vary given its age and the secondary market nature of available inventory, so we recommend confirming packaging details with our team for larger quantity orders.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 1998 Gold Lunar Tiger reflects both the current spot price of gold and a premium above spot that accounts for the coin's fractional size, collector demand, and the limited availability of early Series I issues. Fractional gold coins carry higher per-ounce premiums than their full-ounce counterparts, a standard characteristic across the broader precious metals market driven by the proportionally higher production cost and lower metal content per piece. The Series I Tiger year carries additional demand from collectors seeking to complete the full twelve-coin zodiac set, which can push premiums above what is typical for later or more common issues in the same series. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions and is structured for transparency, with the bid/ask spread visible on the product page so buyers can evaluate both the acquisition cost and the expected resale value before committing to a purchase.

Selling and Liquidity

The 1998 Gold Lunar Tiger trades within a well-established secondary market supported by its Perth Mint origin, verified gold purity, and legal tender status. Series I coins with zodiac years that have completed the full rotation command consistent collector interest, and the Tiger year in particular benefits from its position as one of the more sought-after zodiac signs within the series. We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell precious metals through the same platform. Liquidity considerations are best evaluated before a purchase is made, and our product pages display the bid/ask spread to support that kind of informed decision-making. For buyers who want a clearer picture of secondary market conditions specific to this coin, the data available through our platform helps contextualize how this issue is currently trading relative to other Lunar Series I pieces.

Why Buy the 1998 Australia Gold Lunar Tiger?

The appeal of this coin extends beyond its metal content. As an early release in The Perth Mint's Gold Lunar Series I, the 1998 Tiger issue occupies a specific and non-repeatable position in the zodiac calendar. Series I coins are no longer in production, and the Tiger year will not be re-issued within this original series, which distinguishes it from currently available Lunar coins. For collectors focused on completing a full twelve-year Series I set, the Tiger is one of the essential pieces. The 1/20 oz format is particularly useful for buyers who want multiple zodiac years represented across their holdings without concentrating a large share of their portfolio into any single coin. The Perth Mint's global standing and the .9999 fine gold purity mean this coin is immediately recognizable to dealers and collectors in both domestic and international markets.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have built our reputation on transparency, authenticity, and a customer-first approach to buying and selling precious metals. Every product we offer, including this 1998 Gold Lunar Tiger, is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity. Our sourcing draws on established relationships with reputable mints, wholesalers, and distributors, and our team handles every product with the care that BU-condition coins require. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau, membership in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association, and authorized dealer status with both PCGS and NGC reflect the standards we hold ourselves to across every transaction. We believe buyers should have access to transparent pricing data, clear resale information, and support from a team that treats each purchase as the beginning of a longer relationship rather than a one-time transaction.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products including fractional gold coins like this 1998 Lunar Tiger. Rather than relying on estimated retail values, Pro members can view real-time pricing that reflects actual wholesale market conditions, providing a more accurate picture of what a coin is worth at any given moment. For a Series I coin where premiums can shift based on collector demand and available supply, that level of pricing transparency is meaningfully different from a static product listing. Pro members also benefit from real-time portfolio valuation based on live wholesale bid pricing, alongside proprietary market intelligence tools that help contextualize premiums, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity characteristics specific to individual products. For collectors and buyers evaluating multiple Lunar Series coins across different years and weights, those tools provide an objective framework for comparison that goes well beyond marketing descriptions.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Buyers can complete purchases using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each payment method is processed through a secure transaction environment, and our fulfillment process is designed to deliver orders reliably with the packaging and care that gold coins of this quality deserve.