2010 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.85
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $29.26

Product ID: BST-00162364C0

Specifications

Year 2010
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.999
Weight 0.5 oz
Thickness (mm) 2.3 mm
Diameter (mm) 36.6 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 20
Outer Pack (Quantity) 100
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2010 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger (Series II)

The 2010 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger is a legal tender coin struck by The Perth Mint in .999 fine silver, issued as part of the acclaimed Lunar Series II program. Weighing half a troy ounce, it carries a face value backed by the Australian government and is recognized across global bullion and numismatic markets. The coin blends precious metal content with a culturally significant annual design, making it a distinctive piece within the broader silver coin market.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting its status as a collector-grade issue with strong appeal among both silver stackers and Lunar series enthusiasts. Its fractional size contributes to broader accessibility without sacrificing the design quality or minting standards that define the Series II program.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched Lunar Series II in 2008 as a follow-up to its original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. Each coin in the series corresponds to one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar, with a new design released annually. The Tiger was the featured animal for

Overview of the 2010 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger (Series II)

The 2010 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger is a legal tender coin struck by The Perth Mint in .999 fine silver, issued as part of the acclaimed Lunar Series II program. Weighing half a troy ounce, it carries a face value backed by the Australian government and is recognized across global bullion and numismatic markets. The coin blends precious metal content with a culturally significant annual design, making it a distinctive piece within the broader silver coin market.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting its status as a collector-grade issue with strong appeal among both silver stackers and Lunar series enthusiasts. Its fractional size contributes to broader accessibility without sacrificing the design quality or minting standards that define the Series II program.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched Lunar Series II in 2008 as a follow-up to its original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. Each coin in the series corresponds to one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar, with a new design released annually. The Tiger was the featured animal for 2010, representing the third year of Series II and continuing the mint's tradition of pairing intricate artistry with high-purity silver production.

The Perth Mint, established in 1899 and wholly owned by the Government of Western Australia, is one of the most respected minting institutions in the world. Its Lunar series in particular has developed a dedicated following over decades, supported by limited annual mintages, consistent quality standards, and strong secondary market recognition. The Series II program expanded on its predecessor by introducing more detailed relief designs and a refined aesthetic that collectors found more visually compelling.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2010 Lunar Tiger features a detailed depiction of a tiger moving through tall grass, rendered with sharp relief and fine surface texture that showcases The Perth Mint's engraving capability. The composition conveys motion and power, with careful attention given to the animal's musculature and the layered background elements. The year of issue, the coin's weight, purity, and metal type are all inscribed on the reverse alongside the Chinese character for Tiger.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the standard portrait used on Australian legal tender coins during this period. The portrait is accompanied by the face value denomination and the issuing authority inscription. The Brilliant Uncirculated finish preserves the coin's original luster and brings out the contrast between the frosted design elements and the polished fields, adding to its visual appeal straight from the mint.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin offers a lower entry point than its one-ounce counterpart while retaining the same design quality and .999 fine silver standard. For buyers building a collection of the full Lunar Series II set, the fractional format provides a way to acquire each annual design at a reduced cost per piece. It also handles well for display and storage purposes, fitting standard half-ounce coin capsules without difficulty.

Fractional silver coins like this one tend to carry a slightly higher premium per ounce relative to full-ounce versions, which is a standard characteristic of the format across most sovereign mints. That premium reflects production costs spread across a smaller metal content, along with collector demand for the design itself rather than spot price alone.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every coin in this listing is struck by The Perth Mint to its established fineness standard of .999 pure silver, with weight and dimensions held to tight tolerances consistent with sovereign-issued bullion coinage. The Perth Mint's reputation for precision minting and quality control is well established, and its coins are recognized across major bullion dealers, auction houses, and international markets. That institutional credibility is built into the product itself.

We verify all products for authenticity, weight, and purity before they are made available for purchase. Our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC further reinforce our ability to handle and assess coins of this type with accuracy. For buyers who want additional third-party authentication, we can facilitate grading submissions through those services.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, commonly abbreviated BU, describes a coin that has never entered circulation and retains its original mint luster with no wear to the high points of the design. BU coins may show minor contact marks from the minting and packaging process, which is normal for this grade and does not affect the coin's classification or desirability. For a collector-oriented series like the Lunar Tiger, BU condition is the standard expectation and what the secondary market typically prices accordingly.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to prevent surface contact during transit. Standard tubes for Australian Lunar half-ounce coins typically hold 20 pieces, and orders at that quantity ship in a sealed tube. Larger bulk orders are packaged in sealed mint boxes containing the appropriate number of tubes. When in doubt about packaging for a specific order size, our team is available to clarify before purchase.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin is determined by the current spot price of silver combined with a premium that reflects several overlapping factors. The Perth Mint's standing as a government-backed institution, the annual design exclusivity of the Lunar series, the Brilliant Uncirculated condition, and the coin's collectible status all contribute to a premium above generic silver bullion. Fractional coins also carry inherent production-cost considerations that influence their pricing relative to full-ounce equivalents.

Lunar series coins from The Perth Mint have demonstrated consistent demand in both the collector and bullion markets, which contributes to relatively stable premiums compared to privately minted rounds or generic bars. Our pricing reflects real-time spot conditions and is updated to remain aligned with current wholesale market dynamics rather than fixed retail markups.

Selling and Liquidity

The 2010 Lunar Tiger is part of a well-documented, government-issued series with recognized weight, purity, and mintage records, all of which support its tradability in the secondary market. Perth Mint Lunar coins are widely accepted by dealers, auction platforms, and private buyers globally. The combination of sovereign issuance, annual design scarcity, and a dedicated collector base gives this coin meaningful liquidity relative to many privately produced silver products.

We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell precious metals within our platform. Liquidity is something we believe should be evaluated before a purchase is made, and we make competitive buyback pricing available to help customers understand the full picture of owning a product like this one before they commit to the transaction.

Why Buy the 2010 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Tiger?

This coin occupies an interesting position at the intersection of bullion and numismatics. It carries verifiable silver content at .999 fineness from one of the world's most respected sovereign mints, while also representing a specific year in a widely followed series with a finite mintage. For buyers who collect the full Lunar Series II set, the 2010 Tiger is a necessary piece. For those focused on silver content, the Perth Mint's production standards and government backing provide a level of assurance that privately minted products do not.

The half-ounce format is practical for buyers who want to add recognized silver content without committing to full-ounce pricing per transaction. It also gives collectors the option to own the Lunar Tiger design at a format that fits a range of display and storage configurations. The BU condition ensures the coin presents well and is consistent with what the broader collector market expects from an unopened Perth Mint issue.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been in this industry since 2010, and our approach has always been built around transparency and long-term trust rather than pressure-based sales tactics. Our pricing is tied to real-time market conditions, displayed with clarity, and backed by a two-way model that gives equal weight to both the buying and selling experience. We think that is how a precious metals marketplace should operate.

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 commitment to professional standards that goes beyond marketing claims. We source products from reputable mints, refineries, and established distributors, and every item is verified before it reaches a customer. From payment processing to fulfillment and post-purchase support, the experience is designed to be straightforward and dependable.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products like the 2010 Lunar Tiger, along with real-time portfolio valuation based on current wholesale liquidation values rather than estimated retail prices. For a coin that trades across both the bullion and collector markets, understanding where current wholesale pricing sits relative to retail premiums provides meaningful context for both buyers and sellers. Pro members also gain access to proprietary analytics including historical premium data, bid/ask spread analysis, and liquidity metrics that help evaluate market conditions around specific products over time.

Unlike traditional retail models, Bullion Standard Pro does not layer additional dealer markups onto member pricing. Premiums and spreads fluctuate based on underlying market supply and demand, giving members a more transparent view of how products like this one are actually priced and traded at the wholesale level. For active buyers building a Lunar series collection or managing a broader silver position, that transparency is a practical advantage.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make the transaction process as straightforward as possible. Accepted options include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards, along with PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments processed through BitPay. Each method is handled through a secure transaction environment designed to protect customer information at every step.

Whether you prefer the convenience of a credit card or the efficiency of a wire transfer for a larger order, our checkout process is built to accommodate different buyer preferences without unnecessary friction. Security and simplicity are both priorities, and our support team is available if any questions arise during the payment or fulfillment process.

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