2009 1/2 Oz Australia Gold Lunar Ox (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $1,958.35
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $1,986.19

Product ID: BST-0007170421

Specifications

Year 2009
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 0.5 oz
Thickness (mm) 2.2 mm
Diameter (mm) 30.6 mm
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2009 Half-Ounce Australian Gold Lunar Ox (Series II)

The 2009 half-ounce Australian Gold Lunar Ox is a government-issued bullion coin struck by The Perth Mint in .9999 fine gold, carrying a face value denominated in Australian dollars as legal tender of Australia. Weighing 0.5 troy ounces, it belongs to the second iteration of the Perth Mint's Gold Lunar Series, which runs on a twelve-year cycle tied to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Ox year coin, released in 2009, represents one of the more widely recognized issues within that series among collectors and bullion buyers alike.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition, reflecting the standard production quality associated with Perth Mint bullion coinage. At half an ounce, it occupies a practical middle ground between the one-ounce standard and smaller fractional denominations, offering meaningful gold content in a manageable format.

History and Background

The Perth Mint's Gold Lunar Series II launched in 2008 following the success of the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 through 2007. Each annual release in the series features a new zodiac animal, with the full cycle completing in

Overview of the 2009 Half-Ounce Australian Gold Lunar Ox (Series II)

The 2009 half-ounce Australian Gold Lunar Ox is a government-issued bullion coin struck by The Perth Mint in .9999 fine gold, carrying a face value denominated in Australian dollars as legal tender of Australia. Weighing 0.5 troy ounces, it belongs to the second iteration of the Perth Mint's Gold Lunar Series, which runs on a twelve-year cycle tied to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Ox year coin, released in 2009, represents one of the more widely recognized issues within that series among collectors and bullion buyers alike.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition, reflecting the standard production quality associated with Perth Mint bullion coinage. At half an ounce, it occupies a practical middle ground between the one-ounce standard and smaller fractional denominations, offering meaningful gold content in a manageable format.

History and Background

The Perth Mint's Gold Lunar Series II launched in 2008 following the success of the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 through 2007. Each annual release in the series features a new zodiac animal, with the full cycle completing in 2019 when the Pig year coin was issued. The Ox, the second animal in the Chinese zodiac, was honored in 2009 and continued the series tradition of combining high-purity gold with refined artistic design.

The Perth Mint itself was established in 1899 as a branch of the Royal Mint of London and remains one of the most respected sovereign minting operations in the world. It transitioned to ownership by the Government of Western Australia in 1970 and has since built an international reputation for producing precision-struck bullion and collector coins across multiple metals. The Lunar Series stands as one of its flagship programs, recognized in numismatic and bullion markets across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2009 Gold Lunar Ox features a detailed rendering of an ox standing in a naturalistic setting, with the Chinese character for "Ox" integrated into the composition. The design reflects the Perth Mint's characteristic attention to fine detail, with textured fields, precise relief work, and engraving that conveys both the strength and steadiness traditionally associated with the ox in Chinese culture. The year of issue, metal weight, purity, and face value are inscribed on the reverse as well.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, a standard feature on Australian legal tender coinage issued during this period. The portrait is presented in right-facing profile with identifying inscriptions surrounding the design. The overall composition is clean and well-balanced, consistent with the refined aesthetic that distinguishes Perth Mint coinage from many other sovereign series.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin provides a meaningful entry point for buyers who want substantial gold content without committing to the full cost of a one-ounce piece. The 0.5 oz size also allows for more granular allocation decisions, making it easier to spread holdings across multiple pieces rather than concentrating value in fewer, larger coins.

Fractional Perth Mint Lunar coins tend to carry slightly higher premiums over spot than their one-ounce counterparts, which is consistent with standard pricing behavior across the fractional gold market. For collectors focused on completing a Lunar Series set, the half-ounce denomination offers one of the more practical formats given its balance of size, gold content, and market availability.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Perth Mint produces its Gold Lunar coins to a fineness of .9999, placing them among the purest gold bullion coins currently in production. Each coin is struck using precision dies under strict quality controls that are standard practice at one of the world's most established sovereign mints. The weight and purity specifications are stamped directly into the coin and backed by the issuing authority of the Australian government.

We verify every product we carry for authenticity, weight, and purity before it reaches a customer. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we maintain the sourcing standards and product handling practices expected of credentialed dealers in the numismatic and bullion industry. Buyers can purchase with confidence knowing this coin meets the specifications it represents.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated describes coins that have been struck for distribution but not specifically designated as proof or specimen issues. BU coins exhibit full mint luster with no signs of wear, though minor contact marks or bag marks may be present as a result of the standard handling and packaging process used at the mint. This is entirely normal for BU bullion coinage and does not affect the coin's metal content or recognized market value.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to prevent contact damage during transit. Quantities corresponding to a standard tube ship in a Perth Mint tube, which for the half-ounce Lunar typically holds 20 coins. Larger orders corresponding to a full mint box are packaged accordingly. If you are uncertain about packaging for a specific quantity, our team is available to provide clarification before you purchase.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin moves in direct relationship to the spot price of gold, with a premium added above spot to account for minting costs, distribution, and product-specific demand. Half-ounce fractional coins consistently carry higher per-ounce premiums than one-ounce issues, reflecting the fixed production costs that are proportionally larger relative to the smaller metal content.

Collector interest in the Lunar Series also contributes to the premium structure on individual zodiac year coins. The Ox is among the more sought-after issues in the series, and demand from both bullion buyers and Chinese zodiac collectors influences how this coin trades in the secondary market. Our pricing reflects live market conditions and is updated in real time to keep pace with spot price movements.

Selling and Liquidity

Australian Gold Lunar coins are globally recognized and trade actively in both the retail and wholesale precious metals markets. The Perth Mint's reputation, the legal tender status of the coin, and the standardized .9999 purity all contribute to its broad acceptance among dealers and buyers worldwide. The half-ounce denomination is recognized across major markets, though it is somewhat less liquid than the one-ounce version due to lower overall production volumes.

We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell precious metals through the same platform. Competitive buyback pricing is available for products like this one, and we encourage buyers to consider resale conditions alongside acquisition cost when evaluating any purchase. Understanding liquidity before buying is a core part of how we approach the market.

Why Buy the 2009 Half-Ounce Australian Gold Lunar Ox?

The 2009 Gold Lunar Ox stands out within the Series II program for its combination of numismatic interest and intrinsic gold value. As a year-specific zodiac coin struck in limited annual quantities, it carries appeal beyond purely weight-based demand, particularly among collectors pursuing a complete Lunar Series set or buyers with a personal connection to the Year of the Ox.

The .9999 fineness is among the highest available for any gold coin, and the Perth Mint's production quality is consistently regarded as benchmark-level. For buyers who want gold content paired with a distinctly crafted, government-backed coin from a premier sovereign mint, the Lunar Ox series offers a compelling combination of substance and design quality that is difficult to replicate in generic bullion formats.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We built this platform around the principle that buyers deserve transparent pricing, honest sourcing, and clear information at every step of the transaction. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions, and our two-way market model means liquidity is part of the conversation from the moment you consider a purchase. We carry an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and hold memberships in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association, reflecting our commitment to professional standards in this industry.

As authorized dealers for PCGS and NGC, we handle and source products according to the authentication standards expected at the highest level of the numismatic trade. Every product we sell is verified before it ships. Our payment process is secure, our fulfillment is reliable, and our customer support is knowledgeable and accessible. We operate more like a transparent marketplace than a traditional dealer, and that distinction matters when you are making decisions involving physical gold.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a wide range of precious metals products, including fractional and collector-grade gold coins like the Lunar Ox. Rather than relying on static retail pricing, Pro members see real-time wholesale market prices that reflect actual supply and demand conditions, along with real-time portfolio valuation based on current wholesale bid pricing rather than estimated retail values.

For a product like the Gold Lunar Ox, where collector demand and production-year scarcity can influence premiums and spreads in ways that are not always visible from spot price alone, access to historical premium data, bid/ask spread analysis, and proprietary liquidity metrics helps create a clearer picture of how this coin trades over time. Pro is designed to reduce the information gap that has traditionally existed between retail buyers and the wholesale market, giving members the tools to make more informed decisions on both sides of the transaction.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make buying and selling straightforward. Customers can pay 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 option is processed through a secure environment designed to protect your information and ensure a smooth transaction from checkout through delivery.

Whether you prefer the speed of a wire transfer or the convenience of a credit card, we have structured our payment infrastructure to accommodate different preferences without sacrificing security. The full range of available options is displayed at checkout, and our support team is available to assist if you have questions about a specific payment method before completing your purchase.

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