2014 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Horse (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.07
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $28.47

Product ID: BST-0016314A21

Specifications

Year 2014
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 2014 Australian Silver Lunar Horse (Series II)

The 2014 1/2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Horse is a half-troy-ounce coin struck in .999 fine silver and issued by The Perth Mint as part of the highly regarded Lunar Series II program. It carries legal tender status under Australian law, with a nominal denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin is designated Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting careful handling and quality controls applied during the minting and packaging process.

This coin represents the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, making it one of twelve distinct designs released throughout the Series II program. We carry this piece as part of a broader selection of Perth Mint sovereign issues, reflecting our commitment to offering well-recognized, government-backed silver coins alongside more common bullion formats.

History and Background

The Perth Mint introduced its Lunar Series II coin program in 2008 as a successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. While Series I established the program's identity and built a dedicated collector following, Series II represented a meaningful refinemen

Overview of the 2014 Australian Silver Lunar Horse (Series II)

The 2014 1/2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Horse is a half-troy-ounce coin struck in .999 fine silver and issued by The Perth Mint as part of the highly regarded Lunar Series II program. It carries legal tender status under Australian law, with a nominal denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin is designated Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting careful handling and quality controls applied during the minting and packaging process.

This coin represents the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, making it one of twelve distinct designs released throughout the Series II program. We carry this piece as part of a broader selection of Perth Mint sovereign issues, reflecting our commitment to offering well-recognized, government-backed silver coins alongside more common bullion formats.

History and Background

The Perth Mint introduced its Lunar Series II coin program in 2008 as a successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 to 2007. While Series I established the program's identity and built a dedicated collector following, Series II represented a meaningful refinement in design approach, introducing new artistic interpretations of each zodiac animal while maintaining the program's core structure of annual releases across multiple weight formats.

The Perth Mint itself has operated since 1899, originally established as part of the British Royal Mint network to serve Australia's gold rush era. Today it functions as a government-owned enterprise of Western Australia and is recognized internationally as one of the premier sovereign minting facilities in the world. Its bullion programs, including both the Lunar and Kangaroo series, are distributed widely across global markets.

The Horse is the seventh animal in the twelve-year lunar cycle and holds significant cultural meaning in Chinese tradition, associated with energy, freedom, and vitality. The 2014 release generated sustained collector interest due to the Horse's prominence in Chinese astrology and the visual strength it lends to coin design.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of this coin features a dynamic depiction of a horse in motion, rendered with the fine sculptural detail that has become a hallmark of Perth Mint's Lunar Series II designs. The composition incorporates traditional design elements tied to the Year of the Horse, including the Chinese character for "horse," the year of issue, and inscriptions confirming the coin's weight and silver purity. The background design adds depth and visual contrast to the central figure.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the standard portrait used on Australian coinage during this period. The portrait is accompanied by the legal tender denomination and the country of issue. Together, the obverse and reverse present a balanced coin with strong visual clarity on both faces.

The Brilliant Uncirculated finish gives the coin clean, sharp detail across all design elements. While this is not a proof strike, the quality of the relief work and the consistency of the strike make it an attractive piece for both collectors interested in the Lunar series and buyers focused on the silver content itself.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin occupies a practical middle ground between fractional quarter-ounce pieces and the full one-ounce format that dominates the sovereign silver market. For buyers who want direct exposure to a Perth Mint lunar issue without the price point of a full-ounce coin, the half-ounce format offers a meaningful alternative that preserves the design integrity and government-backed authenticity of the larger piece.

The smaller format also lends itself well to collectors who build complete Lunar Series sets across multiple denominations, as The Perth Mint issued the Horse design in several weights simultaneously. Purchasing at the half-ounce weight allows for portfolio diversification within a single series without concentrating too much capital in any one denomination.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Each coin in this series is struck by The Perth Mint to .999 fine silver, with weight and purity guarantees backed by the Australian government. The Perth Mint is one of a small number of sovereign minting facilities globally with the infrastructure and institutional credibility to produce consistent, auditable bullion coins at this standard. The mint mark "P" appearing on the coin confirms the issuing facility.

We carry Perth Mint issues as part of a curated selection of sovereign bullion products from recognized government mints. Every coin is verified for authenticity and condition before it is listed and fulfilled. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we also have the ability to facilitate professional grading for customers who want third-party certification on higher-value pieces from their collection.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, often abbreviated BU, indicates that this coin was struck for collectors and handled with care from production onward, without being placed into general circulation. BU coins retain their original mint luster and show no signs of wear, though minor handling marks from the production process can occasionally be present as a normal characteristic of uncirculated coinage rather than a defect.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve their condition during transit. The standard tube quantity for Perth Mint half-ounce lunar coins is typically 20 pieces, and orders at that quantity ship in a sealed mint tube. Larger quantity orders follow sealed box packaging in line with Perth Mint's standard distribution format. We package all orders with care to maintain coin integrity from fulfillment through delivery.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin moves in direct relation to the spot price of silver, adjusted upward by a premium that reflects the coin's production costs, Perth Mint's reputation, and the collector demand specific to the Lunar Series II program. Half-ounce silver coins from recognized sovereign mints generally carry slightly higher premiums per ounce than full one-ounce equivalents due to the fixed costs of production being spread across less metal content.

Collector premiums on Lunar Series II coins can also reflect year-specific demand, particularly for animals like the Horse that carry broader cultural significance. As a result, the pricing structure for this coin is influenced by both the underlying silver spot price and the collector market for completed or near-complete Lunar Series sets. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions without artificial markups layered on top of the market rate.

Selling and Liquidity

Perth Mint lunar coins are among the more recognized sovereign silver products in the international market, with a collector base that spans Australia, Asia, North America, and Europe. The combination of government backing, consistent production standards, and culturally significant design themes contributes to the ongoing tradability of these coins in the secondary market.

We operate as a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell coins through our platform. Liquidity for Perth Mint lunar issues tends to be supported by active collector demand, particularly for complete-year releases within each series. When you are ready to sell, we provide competitive buyback pricing that reflects current wholesale market conditions rather than arbitrary dealer spreads.

Why Buy the 2014 Australian Silver Lunar Horse?

The 2014 1/2 oz Silver Lunar Horse stands out within the broader silver coin market because it combines sovereign government backing with a distinct annual design that appeals to both collectors and metal buyers. Unlike generic silver rounds, this coin carries an official Australian denomination, is produced by one of the world's most respected mints, and is part of a numbered series that has developed a dedicated following over more than two decades.

For collectors building a complete Lunar Series II set, the half-ounce Horse is a required piece that fills a specific position in the collection. For buyers primarily focused on silver content, the Perth Mint's rigorous production standards and government-backed weight and purity assurances make this a dependable format for holding physical silver in a more distinctive presentation than standard bullion bars or generic rounds.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We built this platform around a straightforward principle: buyers deserve access to transparent pricing, honest product information, and a reliable place to buy and sell without pressure. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions, and the bid/ask spread displayed on each product page gives you a clearer picture of the true cost of ownership before you commit to a purchase.

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 the standards we hold ourselves to across every transaction. We source from reputable mints and established distribution channels, and every product is verified before it ships. The goal at every step is to make buying and selling physical silver straightforward, transparent, and built on a foundation of long-term trust.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on silver coins like this Perth Mint Lunar Horse, along with real-time portfolio valuation based on current wholesale bid prices rather than estimated retail values. For collectors or buyers building positions across multiple Lunar Series coins, having visibility into live wholesale pricing and historical premium data helps contextualize what you are paying relative to broader market conditions.

Pro members also gain access to proprietary research and comparison tools that allow products to be evaluated side by side using objective metrics including premium levels, bid/ask spread tightness, and liquidity characteristics. These tools are designed to help you make better-informed decisions about which products to buy, when market conditions are favorable, and what to expect when it is time to sell, all without relying on marketing claims as a substitute for real data.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Customers can pay using major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each method is integrated with secure processing to protect your transaction at every stage.

Whether you prefer the speed of a wire transfer, the convenience of a credit card, or the flexibility of cryptocurrency, we have structured our payment options to accommodate the way you prefer to transact. Our fulfillment process is equally straightforward, with reliable shipping and packaging that keeps your coins protected from checkout through delivery.

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