Overview of the 2013 Australian Silver Lunar Snake (Series II)

The 2013 Perth Mint Silver Lunar Snake is a one-ounce .999 fine silver coin issued as part of the Australian Lunar Series II, one of the most recognized and collected government-minted silver coin series in the world. Struck by The Perth Mint in Western Australia, the coin carries legal tender status under Australian law with a face value of one dollar. Its weight, purity, and official backing place it firmly alongside the most trusted sovereign silver products available in the market today. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing clean strikes with full mint luster and no signs of circulation wear.

History and Background

The Australian Lunar coin series draws its design themes from the traditional Chinese zodiac, with each annual release featuring the animal associated with that year in the twelve-year cycle. The Perth Mint launched the original Lunar Series I in 1996, and following its success, introduced the redesigned Lunar Series II in 2008 with updated portraiture, enhanced design detail, and a refined visual identity that distinguished it from its predecessor. The 2013 coin corresponds to the Year of the Snake, the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle, and was produced in limited annual mintage quantities consistent with the series format. The Perth Mint itself carries a history stretching back to 1899, when it was established as a branch of the British Royal Mint. Today it operates as a wholly owned entity of the Western Australian government and is widely regarded as one of the most technically advanced and reputable minting operations in the world. The Lunar Series II represents one of its flagship annual bullion programs, combining sovereign credibility with detailed artistic craftsmanship.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2013 Lunar Snake features a detailed depiction of a snake rendered against a background design that incorporates traditional stylistic elements associated with the Chinese zodiac. The composition is carefully struck to highlight the fine detail of the serpent's scales and posture, with the inscriptions "YEAR OF THE SNAKE," "1 OZ 999 SILVER," and the year of issue "2013" appearing in precise lettering. A privy mark featuring a "P" for the Perth Mint is also included, confirming the coin's origin. 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. Her Majesty's name, the face value, and "AUSTRALIA" are inscribed around the portrait in the standard format used across Perth Mint sovereign coinage. The overall surface finish on Brilliant Uncirculated examples shows sharp relief, strong luster, and well-preserved detail consistent with coins handled directly from mint production.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Perth Mint operates under strict minting standards, and each coin in the Lunar Series II is produced to meet the declared specifications of one troy ounce and .999 fine silver purity. The coin's sovereign issuance under Australian law provides a foundational layer of accountability that extends beyond typical bullion products. We verify the authenticity, weight, and purity of every product before it reaches a customer, and our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC allow us to facilitate professional third-party grading for customers who require certified authentication. The Perth Mint's longstanding reputation in the global precious metals market adds further assurance. Products bearing its "P" mintmark are widely recognized by dealers, numismatists, and institutions worldwide, which reinforces confidence in both the coin's legitimacy and its declared metal content.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, often abbreviated as BU, describes coins that have left the mint in pristine, non-circulated condition with full original luster intact. These are coins struck for collector and bullion purposes rather than currency circulation, and they retain the sharp detail and reflective surfaces characteristic of a fresh mint strike. While BU coins may occasionally show minor contact marks from handling during the minting and packaging process, they carry none of the wear associated with circulated coinage. Individual coins ship in protective plastic flips to preserve their condition during transit. Standard tube quantities for one-ounce Perth Mint Lunar coins are typically 20 coins per tube, and orders at that quantity ship in a sealed mint tube. Larger orders at the full box quantity ship in a sealed monster box containing 500 coins. Packaging format is intended to maintain the integrity of the coin's surface from the time it leaves us until it arrives with you.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 2013 Lunar Snake is calculated based on the current spot price of silver plus a premium that reflects the coin's status as a limited-mintage sovereign issue from one of the world's premier mints. Perth Mint Lunar coins generally carry a higher premium than standard bullion coins because of their collectible nature, annual mintage caps, and the detailed production involved in striking them. The specific year and zodiac theme can also influence secondary market demand, particularly from collectors who complete full series runs. Our pricing reflects live market conditions without unnecessary complexity or hidden markups. The bid/ask spread displayed on our product page gives you a clear picture of both the acquisition cost and the expected resale value, so you can evaluate the full cost of ownership before completing a purchase.

Selling and Liquidity

The Australian Lunar Series II is broadly recognized in both the bullion and numismatic markets, which supports its tradability across a wide range of buyers and dealers. The one-ounce format, .999 silver purity, and Perth Mint origin are well understood internationally, and the coin trades with reasonable liquidity relative to other limited-mintage sovereign issues. Demand from collectors completing zodiac series sets can create additional secondary market interest beyond what standard bullion coins typically see. We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell precious metals within the same platform. Liquidity is a factor worth considering before any purchase is finalized, and our buyback pricing is designed to make that side of the transaction straightforward and competitive when the time comes.

Why Buy the 2013 Australian Silver Lunar Snake?

The 2013 Lunar Snake occupies a distinct position in the market as both a recognized sovereign silver coin and a collectible piece tied to a finite annual mintage. Unlike generic silver rounds or standard government bullion coins produced in open mintages, Perth Mint Lunar coins are issued once per year for a single zodiac theme, which limits available supply over time. For collectors building a complete Lunar Series II set, this coin represents a specific and non-repeating entry in that sequence. From a pure bullion standpoint, the coin delivers one ounce of .999 fine silver backed by the authority of the Australian government and struck by one of the most technically respected mints in operation. For buyers who want both metal content and the added dimension of a collectible series, the Lunar Snake offers a combination that standard bullion coins do not replicate.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We built this platform around the belief that buying and selling physical precious metals should be a transparent, data-informed experience rather than a high-pressure transaction. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions, and the bid/ask spread on each product page is designed to give you an honest picture of both sides of the transaction. That level of transparency is central to how we operate. Every product we sell is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before it reaches you. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau, membership in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association, and authorized dealer status with PCGS and NGC reflect a long-term commitment to credibility and professionalism in this industry. We source from reputable mints, refineries, and established distributors, and we stand behind the quality of every product in our catalog.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members direct access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products like the 2013 Lunar Snake, so premiums and spreads reflect actual wholesale market conditions rather than fixed retail structures. Real-time portfolio valuation using current wholesale bid pricing provides a more accurate picture of what your holdings are worth at any given moment, based on where the market is actually trading rather than estimated retail values. Pro also includes proprietary research and comparison tools that allow you to evaluate the Lunar Snake alongside other silver products using metrics such as premium history, bid/ask spread tightness, and liquidity characteristics. For a coin that trades in both bullion and collector markets, having access to that kind of objective data helps you understand how the product is priced relative to the broader silver market and make more informed decisions on both the buy and sell sides.

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