2002 1/20 Oz Australia Gold Lunar Horse (Series I) - BU

Buyback price:  $201.03
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $203.88

Product ID: BST-00161137D1

Specifications

Year 2002
Precious Metal Type Gold
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.9999
Weight 0.05 oz
Thickness (mm) 1.4 mm
Diameter (mm) 14.6 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 20
Outer Pack (Quantity) 100
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2002 Australia Gold Lunar Horse (Series I)

The 2002 Australia Gold Lunar Horse is a 1/20 oz fractional coin struck in .9999 fine gold and issued by The Perth Mint as part of the original Lunar Series I collection. It carries legal tender status under Australian law and represents one of the most recognized annual series in the global gold coin market. This particular release marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Lunar calendar.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition, representing a well-struck example from the 2002 release year. At one-twentieth of a troy ounce, it belongs to a fractional tier that appeals to collectors and buyers working within tighter acquisition budgets without sacrificing the four-nines purity standard the Perth Mint is known for.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Gold Lunar Series I in 1996, introducing a rotating annual design tied to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Each year brought a new reverse design while maintaining consistent specifications and the hallmark quality associated with the mint's broader bullion program. The Horse release appeared as the seventh coin in the series, hit

Overview of the 2002 Australia Gold Lunar Horse (Series I)

The 2002 Australia Gold Lunar Horse is a 1/20 oz fractional coin struck in .9999 fine gold and issued by The Perth Mint as part of the original Lunar Series I collection. It carries legal tender status under Australian law and represents one of the most recognized annual series in the global gold coin market. This particular release marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Lunar calendar.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition, representing a well-struck example from the 2002 release year. At one-twentieth of a troy ounce, it belongs to a fractional tier that appeals to collectors and buyers working within tighter acquisition budgets without sacrificing the four-nines purity standard the Perth Mint is known for.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Gold Lunar Series I in 1996, introducing a rotating annual design tied to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Each year brought a new reverse design while maintaining consistent specifications and the hallmark quality associated with the mint's broader bullion program. The Horse release appeared as the seventh coin in the series, hitting the market in 2002.

The Perth Mint itself was established in 1899 and operates as one of the oldest and most reputable mints in the world. It functions as a statutory authority of the Western Australian government and has long been recognized for its precision manufacturing and quality control across both collector and bullion-grade products. The Lunar Series I became a foundational chapter in the mint's modern numismatic legacy, drawing sustained demand from collectors across Asia, Europe, and North America.

With the series concluding after its twelfth coin in 2007, all Series I releases are now fully out of production. The Horse issue is among the more sought-after titles in the series, reflecting the cultural significance of the horse across many parts of Asia and the collector interest that has built around it over the years.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of this coin features a highly detailed depiction of a horse rendered in the Perth Mint's characteristic fine relief style. The design captures the animal with natural energy and proportion, surrounded by traditional Lunar Series formatting that includes the year of issue, the weight, purity, and face value inscriptions. The composition balances decorative artistry with the technical precision expected from a government-issued bullion coin.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the standard effigy used on Australian coinage during this period. The portrait is surrounded by the Queen's name, the denomination, and country of issue. At the 1/20 oz scale, the engraving detail is tightly packed into a small diameter, which makes the coin a refined example of precision die work at a fractional format.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At 1/20 of a troy ounce, this coin occupies one of the smaller fractional tiers commonly available in the gold coin market. The lower metal content brings the acquisition price down considerably relative to full-ounce or half-ounce formats, which makes it a practical option for buyers looking to accumulate physical gold incrementally or add a specific year to a Lunar Series collection without committing to a larger piece.

Fractional coins like this one also serve as natural entry points for those building a diverse holding across different weights. The 1/20 oz format is compact and easy to store, and because it carries the same purity standard as larger Perth Mint issues, it fits cleanly alongside higher-denomination pieces in a structured collection or holding.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every coin in the Perth Mint's Lunar Series I was struck to the same exacting standards applied across the mint's full gold program. The .9999 fine gold specification is one of the highest purity levels in commercial bullion minting, and each coin is produced to precise weight tolerances established by the mint's production protocols. Legal tender status under Australian law further reinforces the official nature of this issue.

We verify authenticity, weight, and purity on every product we handle before it is made available to buyers. Our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC mean that customers who wish to have a coin professionally graded or authenticated can do so through recognized third-party channels. For a series like Lunar Series I, which has been out of production for nearly two decades, third-party grading can be a meaningful tool for confirming grade and protecting resale value.

Condition and Packaging

BU, or Brilliant Uncirculated, indicates that this coin was struck for collector and bullion purposes and has not circulated as currency. Coins in BU condition retain their original mint luster and show no signs of wear, though minor contact marks from handling during the production and packaging process can be present and are consistent with the grade designation. This is an expected characteristic of BU coins and does not indicate damage or a downgrade in condition.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve their condition during transit. Larger quantities are packaged according to Perth Mint's standard format for this series. When purchasing a full tube quantity, coins ship in their original tube, and sealed box quantities are packaged accordingly. Because this is a fractional coin from a completed series, secondary market packaging can vary slightly, and we take care to maintain appropriate protection regardless of the source format.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for this coin is tied to the current spot price of gold, with a premium applied above that baseline. For Lunar Series I coins in general, and for the Horse release in particular, the premium structure reflects more than just metal content. Production quality, the Perth Mint's brand recognition, the numismatic appeal of a completed series, and the fractional format all contribute to the spread between spot and asking price.

The 1/20 oz format typically carries a higher premium per troy ounce than larger fractional or full-ounce formats, which is a standard characteristic of smaller coin sizes due to fixed production costs spread across less metal. At the same time, the collectibility of the Series I Horse issue, now that the series is closed, can introduce an additional layer of numismatic demand that influences pricing beyond pure bullion calculations. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions and is structured to give buyers a clear picture of what they are paying and why.

Selling and Liquidity

The Perth Mint's Lunar Series I has an established presence in both the bullion and numismatic resale markets. The .9999 gold standard, government issuance, and wide international recognition make Series I coins broadly accepted by dealers and collectors. The Horse release benefits from its position in a culturally significant year and the general collector demand that follows any completed annual series.

We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell precious metals within the same platform. Understanding what a coin is worth when it is time to sell matters as much as the initial purchase decision, and our buyback pricing is designed to reflect competitive market conditions on both sides of the transaction. Liquidity considerations for a coin like this one should factor in both the bullion content and the collector premium that may be embedded in its market price at any given time.

Why Buy the 2002 Australia Gold Lunar Horse?

This coin appeals to two distinct types of buyers. For collectors working through the Lunar Series I, the 2002 Horse is a specific and necessary release in a twelve-coin sequence that is now fully closed. For buyers focused on fractional gold, it offers .9999 purity from one of the world's most respected government mints in a compact and accessible format.

The cultural resonance of the horse motif adds depth to this particular year beyond what a generic fractional coin provides. The Perth Mint's reputation for fine relief engraving and precise production quality is consistently evident across the Series I releases, and the 2002 Horse is no exception. For buyers who want fractional gold that carries both intrinsic and numismatic weight, this coin delivers on both counts.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We built this platform around the principle that buyers deserve clear, consistent information at every step of a transaction. Our pricing reflects live market conditions, and we display both buy and sell pricing so customers can evaluate the full picture rather than just the sticker price. That transparency is not limited to product listings but extends across the buying, selling, and research experience we provide.

Every product we offer is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity. 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 a consistent standard of professionalism built over more than a decade. We operate from San Diego and serve buyers nationally, with responsive customer support and secure fulfillment as core commitments rather than afterthoughts.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a broad range of coins, including fractional and numismatic products like this one. Rather than working from estimated or indicative prices, Pro members can see real-time wholesale market pricing that reflects actual supply and demand conditions. For a coin like the 2002 Lunar Horse, where both bullion and collector premiums play a role in pricing, having access to transparent wholesale data provides meaningful context that standard retail listings do not offer.

Pro also includes real-time portfolio valuation based on live wholesale bid prices, along with product research tools that allow members to compare premiums, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity metrics across the broader catalog. These tools are designed to reduce the information gap that has historically made physical precious metals harder to evaluate objectively, giving buyers a more complete picture of what they own and what it is currently worth in the wholesale market.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Buyers can pay using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, or bank-connected payments through Plaid. We also accept wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments processed through BitPay.

Each payment method is handled through a secure checkout environment, and our fulfillment process is designed to move orders efficiently from purchase confirmation through delivery. Whether you are adding to an existing collection or acquiring this coin for the first time, the purchasing process is built to be simple, transparent, and dependable from start to finish.

Reviews