2013 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Snake (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.67
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $29.08

Product ID: BST-001628F7B4

Specifications

Year 2013
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 2013 Australia Silver Lunar Snake (Series II)

The 2013 Australia Silver Lunar Snake is a half-ounce silver coin struck by The Perth Mint as part of its acclaimed Lunar Series II program. Composed of .999 fine silver and weighing 0.5 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features the distinctive year-specific design that defines each release in the series. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the production standard The Perth Mint applies to its collectible bullion issues.

The Snake marks the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar, and like every coin in the Lunar Series II program, it appeals to both silver stackers and collectors who follow the annual releases. Its fractional weight positions it as an accessible option without sacrificing the design quality or minting precision the series is known for.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Lunar Series II program in 2008 as a successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. Each series cycles through the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, with a dedicated coin design issued for each year. Series II introd

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

The 2013 Australia Silver Lunar Snake is a half-ounce silver coin struck by The Perth Mint as part of its acclaimed Lunar Series II program. Composed of .999 fine silver and weighing 0.5 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features the distinctive year-specific design that defines each release in the series. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the production standard The Perth Mint applies to its collectible bullion issues.

The Snake marks the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar, and like every coin in the Lunar Series II program, it appeals to both silver stackers and collectors who follow the annual releases. Its fractional weight positions it as an accessible option without sacrificing the design quality or minting precision the series is known for.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Lunar Series II program in 2008 as a successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. Each series cycles through the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, with a dedicated coin design issued for each year. Series II introduced updated designs, refined aesthetics, and a broader range of weights and denominations compared to its predecessor, cementing The Perth Mint's position as a leader in themed annual bullion releases.

The Perth Mint itself has operated continuously since 1899, originally established as part of the Royal Mint system to process gold from Western Australia's mining boom. It remains government-owned under the Gold Corporation and is recognized as one of the most technically advanced minting facilities in the world. The Lunar series has become one of its signature programs, drawing consistent demand from buyers across Asia, North America, and Europe.

The 2013 Snake coin represents the sixth release in the Series II lineup. As the series progressed, it built a following among collectors who pursue complete sets across multiple sizes, making individual year releases like this one relevant beyond the year of issue.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2013 Lunar Snake features a detailed depiction of a snake rendered with the flowing, naturalistic style characteristic of the Series II program. The design incorporates the Chinese character for "snake," the year of issue, and inscriptions noting the coin's weight, purity, and face value. The composition uses negative space and fine engraving to create depth and contrast across the coin's surface.

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 portrait is surrounded by the denomination and country of issue, presented in a clean, uncluttered arrangement consistent with The Perth Mint's production standards.

Brilliant Uncirculated coins from The Perth Mint display sharp relief and a polished finish, with no intentional frosting applied to design elements as would be the case with proof issues. The overall presentation is clean and precise, reflecting the controlled minting environment in which these coins are produced.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin sits in a practical middle ground between the more widely traded one-ounce format and smaller fractional pieces. For buyers who want exposure to a Perth Mint Lunar release without committing to the cost of a full ounce, the half-ounce offers meaningful flexibility. The lower per-unit price also makes it a straightforward option for adding variety to a collection without a significant outlay.

Fractional coins from established mints like The Perth Mint typically carry slightly higher premiums per ounce than their full-ounce counterparts, which is a standard characteristic of smaller-format precious metals. Buyers who understand that relationship can plan accordingly when adding fractional pieces to a broader holding.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every 2013 Lunar Snake coin we carry was produced at The Perth Mint to .999 fine silver specifications and 0.5 troy ounce weight, meeting the standards The Perth Mint applies consistently across its bullion and collectible output. The Perth Mint's reputation for precision minting and quality control is well established across the global bullion market, and its legal tender coins are widely recognized by dealers and institutions worldwide.

We verify authenticity, weight, and purity across the products we handle, and our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC mean that customers looking to have coins professionally graded can do so through channels we support directly. These relationships also reinforce the broader authentication standards we maintain across our catalog.

Condition and Packaging

This coin is listed in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, meaning it has been struck for collector and investor appeal rather than general circulation. BU coins from The Perth Mint are handled and packaged at the mint to preserve their surface quality, with no intentional post-strike wear or cleaning applied.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip. The standard tube for The Perth Mint's half-ounce Lunar coins holds 20 pieces, and orders at that quantity ship in the sealed tube. Larger orders are fulfilled in sealed boxes containing the appropriate number of tubes. These packaging formats are designed to protect surface quality during transit and storage, setting accurate expectations for how the product will arrive.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin is tied directly to the current spot price of silver, with a premium added above that base to account for minting costs, The Perth Mint's production quality, and the collectible appeal of the Lunar Series II program. Fractional silver coins from recognized sovereign mints typically carry a higher premium per ounce than standard one-ounce issues, which reflects both the relative production cost and the collector demand that accompanies year-specific designs.

Our pricing updates in real time to reflect live market conditions, and the bid/ask spread displayed on our product page gives buyers a clear view of both the acquisition cost and the current resale environment. Understanding both sides of that equation provides a more complete picture of the true cost of ownership rather than focusing solely on the premium above spot.

Selling and Liquidity

The Perth Mint Lunar Series coins are recognized across global precious metals markets, and their standardized weight and purity make them straightforward to evaluate in resale contexts. The Snake year, as a specific annual release with a fixed mintage, tends to attract interest from collectors pursuing complete series sets in addition to buyers focused purely on silver content.

We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can sell back as well as purchase within the same platform. Competitive buyback pricing is part of how we approach the full transaction, not just the initial sale. Considering the resale side before completing a purchase is a useful habit, and our platform is structured to make that evaluation straightforward.

Why Buy the 2013 Australia Silver Lunar Snake?

The Lunar Series II program from The Perth Mint is one of the most consistently followed annual silver coin programs in the world, and the Snake year occupies a defined place within that complete twelve-coin cycle. Collectors who build full sets across one or more weight categories specifically seek out this release, which supports ongoing demand beyond the original year of issue.

The combination of .999 silver content, legal tender status, and The Perth Mint's recognized production standards gives this coin broad credibility across both the collector and bullion markets. The half-ounce format adds an element of accessibility that makes it a practical addition alongside larger-denomination holdings or as a standalone piece within a more focused collection.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have built our business around transparent pricing, honest communication, and a buying experience that does not rely on high-pressure tactics or unclear costs. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions, and the bid/ask spread on each product page gives customers the full picture rather than just the headline price. That approach has earned us an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and a long-standing membership in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association.

As authorized dealers for PCGS and NGC, we maintain direct connections to the professional grading infrastructure that underpins the collector coin market. Every product we handle is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before it reaches a customer. Our goal is to make the process of buying and selling physical silver straightforward, well-documented, and backed by responsive support at every step.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing rather than static retail figures. For a coin like the 2013 Lunar Snake, where both silver content and collector demand influence pricing, having visibility into real-time wholesale market conditions allows for a more informed evaluation of where a given premium stands relative to historical norms. Pro members can also access proprietary analytics including premium history, spread analysis, and liquidity metrics, which help contextualize current pricing within a broader market picture.

Portfolio valuation through Bullion Standard Pro uses live wholesale bid pricing rather than estimated retail values, providing a more realistic view of what holdings are actually worth in the current market. For collectors or stackers managing positions across multiple products, this level of transparency creates a more accurate and actionable snapshot of portfolio value at any given moment.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make purchasing straightforward and secure. Customers can pay using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, or paper check. For buyers who prefer digital currency, we also accept cryptocurrency payments through BitPay.

Every transaction is processed with security and reliability as the priority, and our fulfillment process is designed to get orders out accurately and on time. Whether this is a first purchase or an addition to an ongoing collection, the experience is built around making the process simple and the outcome predictable.

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