Overview of the 2013 Australian Gold Lunar Snake

The 2013 1/10 oz Australian Gold Lunar Snake is a government-issued bullion coin struck by The Perth Mint in .9999 fine gold. Issued as part of the highly regarded Lunar Series II program, this coin carries legal tender status under the Australian government and features a design dedicated to the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac calendar. At one-tenth of a troy ounce, it represents one of the smaller fractional offerings within the series while maintaining the same exceptional purity standard as its larger counterparts. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the striking quality and careful handling consistent with Perth Mint production.

History and Background

The Perth Mint's Australian Lunar coin series has its roots in the late 1990s, when the mint launched its original Lunar Series I program to honor the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The program proved so successful that a second series, Lunar Series II, was introduced beginning in 2008 with the Year of the Mouse. Each coin in the series is produced for a single calendar year with designs that change annually, making every release a distinct and time-specific issue. The 2013 coin marks the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the twelve-year zodiac cycle. The Perth Mint itself has operated since 1899 and is one of the most technically accomplished government mints in the world. Its reputation for producing coins with exceptional finish quality and tight tolerances has made Perth Mint products consistently recognized in both the collector and bullion markets. The Lunar Series II program reflects the mint's commitment to combining artistic craftsmanship with investment-grade metal standards, a combination that has driven strong global demand across the series.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2013 Lunar Snake features a detailed depiction of a snake in a naturalistic setting, rendered with fine engraving work that captures texture and movement. The design is specific to the Year of the Snake and incorporates traditional Chinese lunar calendar symbolism alongside the Perth Mint's characteristic precision finishing. The coin's year of issue, metal content, weight, and purity are inscribed on the reverse, providing complete identification without cluttering the composition. The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which has appeared on Australian legal tender coinage for many years. The portrait is surrounded by standard inscriptions identifying the coin's denomination and country of issue. The Brilliant Uncirculated finish gives the coin clean, sharp fields and well-defined relief, which is particularly apparent in the fine detail work of the snake design on the reverse.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At 1/10 of a troy ounce, this coin offers a lower per-unit price point compared to the one-ounce version of the same design, making it more accessible for buyers who want exposure to .9999 fine gold without committing to a full ounce at once. Fractional gold coins are commonly used to build a position incrementally or to maintain smaller, individually tradable units within a larger holding. The 1/10 oz format is a widely recognized fractional size and trades comfortably in both retail and wholesale markets. The smaller format also makes this coin practical for gifting or for adding variety to an existing collection of Lunar Series pieces. Because it shares the same purity and government-backed issuance as larger denominations in the series, it carries the same fundamental characteristics at a size that suits a broader range of buyers.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Perth Mint strikes this coin to .9999 fine gold with precise weight specifications that meet Australian legal tender standards. As one of the world's most respected sovereign mints, Perth maintains rigorous quality controls throughout its production process, and the Lunar Series II coins are produced to the same exacting standards as the mint's flagship programs. The coin's specifications are stamped directly on the reverse, providing immediate on-coin verification of metal content. We verify the authenticity, weight, and purity of the products we carry before they reach our customers. Our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC further support our ability to assist customers who require third-party grading or certification for specific coins. Sovereign-issued gold coins from established mints like Perth are among the most straightforward products to authenticate, and the well-documented specifications of this series make any deviation from standard immediately detectable.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, often abbreviated BU, describes a coin that has been struck for circulation quality or bullion distribution but has never actually entered circulation. BU coins retain their original mint luster with sharp strike detail and clean fields, though they may show minor bag marks or contact points from handling during the minting and packaging process. This is normal for BU-grade coins and does not indicate any reduction in metal content or intrinsic quality. Individual coins are typically shipped in protective plastic flips to prevent surface contact during transit. The Perth Mint packages 1/10 oz Lunar Series II coins in tubes of ten, and these tubes are then consolidated into sealed boxes for larger orders. When you purchase a single coin, it ships in a flip. A full tube of ten ships in its original protective tube. If you are ordering in larger quantities, we will reflect the appropriate packaging format to keep your coins protected and organized upon arrival.

Pricing and Market Factors

Like all gold bullion coins, the price of the 2013 1/10 oz Lunar Snake is based on the current spot price of gold with a premium applied above that base. The premium for this coin reflects several factors, including the Perth Mint's strong global reputation, the coin's legal tender status, the fine detail and quality of the Lunar Series II program, and the added production cost associated with fractional sizing. Fractional coins typically carry a slightly higher premium per ounce than full one-ounce coins, a well-understood characteristic of smaller gold formats across virtually all sovereign programs. Collector and thematic demand also contribute to the premium structure for Lunar Series coins. Because each design is issued for a single year only, secondary market demand can shift as series completionists and date-specific buyers seek particular years. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions and is structured for transparency, so you can see both the acquisition cost and the bid price on our product page without needing to calculate one from the other.

Selling and Liquidity

Australian Gold Lunar coins are widely recognized in the global precious metals market, and the Perth Mint's reputation ensures that these coins are accepted by dealers and buyback programs internationally. The .9999 fine gold standard and the coin's government-issued legal tender status make it straightforward to identify and price in any resale context. The Lunar Series II program has a well-established collector following, which can support secondary market liquidity particularly for clean, well-preserved examples. We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell within the same platform. Liquidity is a factor worth considering before you buy, not only when you decide to sell, and our transparent bid pricing is designed to give you a clear picture of current market conditions at both ends of the transaction. The bid/ask spread displayed on our product page reflects live market dynamics and provides a measurable benchmark for evaluating the true cost of ownership.

Why Buy the 2013 Australian Gold Lunar Snake?

The 2013 Lunar Snake occupies a well-defined space as both a bullion coin and a collectible. It is struck in .9999 fine gold by a sovereign mint with a global reputation, carries Australian legal tender status, and represents a single non-repeating year in a beloved twelve-coin series. These characteristics give it recognizability and context beyond what a generic fractional gold coin can offer, without sacrificing the metal content or purity standards that bullion buyers expect. For those building out a complete Lunar Series II set, the 2013 Snake is an essential piece that becomes progressively harder to source in well-preserved condition as the years pass. For buyers focused on fractional gold, the 1/10 oz size offers a manageable unit at a quality level that holds up in both the collector and bullion resale markets. The combination of fine craftsmanship, recognized purity, and series-specific demand makes this coin a practical and distinctive choice within the fractional gold category.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a precious metals dealer since 2010, and our approach has always centered on transparency and straightforward transactions. Our pricing is structured around real-time market conditions, and we display both buy and sell prices on every product page so you can evaluate a purchase with full visibility into the spread before you commit. That kind of clarity is not always easy to find in this industry, and it reflects how we approach every part of the buying experience. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau and our memberships in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect a consistent track record of customer-first service. As an authorized dealer for both PCGS and NGC, we are well-positioned to assist customers who need grading or certification for their coins. We source products from reputable mints and distributors, and we verify every item for authenticity and specification compliance before it reaches you. From payment through fulfillment, the experience is designed to be secure, reliable, and free of unnecessary friction.

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 this 1/10 oz Lunar Snake, rather than the indicative or retail-adjusted prices typically found in standard dealer environments. Because Pro pricing reflects real-time supply and demand at the wholesale level without added dealer markups or fixed retail spreads, members can see how premiums and bid/ask spreads actually move with market conditions. For fractional gold coins, where per-ounce premiums can fluctuate more noticeably than in full-ounce formats, that kind of live pricing visibility makes a meaningful difference. Pro members also gain access to portfolio valuation based on live wholesale bid prices, historical premium analytics, spread analysis, and proprietary market intelligence tools that provide a more complete picture of how individual products are trading. Rather than relying on static listings, Pro members can evaluate this coin using objective data, including where its current premium sits relative to its historical range and how liquidity conditions are shifting in the broader gold market. These tools are designed to support more informed decision-making at every stage, from the initial purchase through to eventual resale.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make the purchasing process straightforward and secure for every customer. You can complete your purchase using major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, or through PayPal for added convenience. Bank-connected payments are available through Plaid, and we also accept wire transfer and paper check for buyers who prefer those methods. For customers who hold digital assets, we process cryptocurrency payments through BitPay. Each payment method is integrated into a secure transaction environment, and our fulfillment process is designed to protect your order from purchase through delivery. Whatever method you choose, the goal is a smooth and reliable experience from start to finish.