2017 1/4 Oz Australia Gold Lunar Rooster (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $980.84
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $994.78

Product ID: BST-0006583501

Specifications

Year 2017
Precious Metal Type Gold
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.9999
Weight 0.25 oz
Thickness (mm) 2.2 mm
Diameter (mm) 22.6 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 20
Outer Pack (Quantity) 200
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2017 Australia Gold Lunar Rooster (Series II)

The 2017 Australia Gold Lunar Rooster is a quarter-ounce gold coin struck by The Perth Mint in .9999 fine gold as part of the Australian Lunar Series II program. Issued with legal tender status under Australian law, it carries a face value of $25 AUD, though its market value is determined by its gold content and the prevailing premium attached to the series. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing one of the most widely collected fractional gold formats in the Australian Lunar lineup.

The Series II Lunar coins are among the most respected government-issued bullion coins produced in the Asia-Pacific region, recognized globally for their fine gold specification and consistent minting standards. The Rooster issue marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese Zodiac calendar, making 2017 the only year this design was produced within the series. That single-year production structure is a defining characteristic of the entire Lunar program.

History and Background

The Perth Mint introduced its first Australian Lunar Series in 1996, producing coins dedicated to each of the twelve animals of the Ch

Overview of the 2017 Australia Gold Lunar Rooster (Series II)

The 2017 Australia Gold Lunar Rooster is a quarter-ounce gold coin struck by The Perth Mint in .9999 fine gold as part of the Australian Lunar Series II program. Issued with legal tender status under Australian law, it carries a face value of $25 AUD, though its market value is determined by its gold content and the prevailing premium attached to the series. We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing one of the most widely collected fractional gold formats in the Australian Lunar lineup.

The Series II Lunar coins are among the most respected government-issued bullion coins produced in the Asia-Pacific region, recognized globally for their fine gold specification and consistent minting standards. The Rooster issue marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese Zodiac calendar, making 2017 the only year this design was produced within the series. That single-year production structure is a defining characteristic of the entire Lunar program.

History and Background

The Perth Mint introduced its first Australian Lunar Series in 1996, producing coins dedicated to each of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Series II launched in 2008 with updated designs and expanded size options, running through 2019 to complete the second full twelve-year cycle. Each year's coin features a new animal subject, and once the year concludes, the design is retired permanently, which defines the limited annual mintage structure of the series.

The Perth Mint itself has operated since 1899 and functions as one of the world's leading precious metals mints. Originally established as a branch of the British Royal Mint, it became a statutory authority of the Western Australian government in 1970. Today it is widely regarded as a benchmark for precision minting, and its gold products are accepted and traded in bullion markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

The Rooster holds the tenth position in the Chinese Zodiac cycle and is associated with themes of diligence, punctuality, and confidence in Chinese cultural tradition. The 2017 coin was produced to recognize that year's placement in the cycle, consistent with how The Perth Mint has approached each successive release in the series. This cultural grounding has contributed to strong collector demand for Lunar coins across both Eastern and Western markets.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2017 Gold Lunar Rooster features a detailed depiction of a rooster rendered with fine engraving against a polished or frosted background typical of The Perth Mint's production standards. The design incorporates the Chinese character for "rooster," the year of issue, the coin's weight and purity inscriptions, and the "P" mintmark identifying the coin as a product of The Perth Mint in Perth, Western Australia. The composition balances fine detail with strong visual clarity, which is consistent across fractional and full-ounce versions of the coin.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which appeared on Australian coinage during this period. The portrait is accompanied by the legal tender denomination of $25 and the word "Australia," completing the standard sovereign coin obverse composition. The interplay between the controlled relief of the portrait and the more expressive reverse design reflects the dual purpose of the coin as both a bullion product and a collectible issue.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At a quarter ounce of .9999 fine gold, this coin sits at a practical price point relative to the full-ounce version, allowing buyers to acquire Perth Mint gold and participate in the Lunar series without committing to a single larger purchase. The fractional format is particularly useful for those building a position in increments or seeking to diversify holdings across multiple Lunar years or design subjects. It also functions as a flexible denomination when it comes time to rebalance or liquidate, since quarter-ounce coins can be moved individually rather than as part of a larger denomination.

The quarter-ounce format carries a somewhat higher premium per ounce than its full-ounce counterpart, which is standard across the industry for fractional government-minted gold coins. The production cost per ounce of gold is proportionally higher for smaller blanks, and collector demand for fractional Lunar issues supports a premium that reflects both the minting quality and the series-specific appeal of the design.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every coin in the Australian Lunar Series II is produced by The Perth Mint to a fineness of .9999, one of the highest gold purities available in government-issued bullion coinage. The Perth Mint applies strict quality controls throughout production, and the "P" mintmark serves as a direct identifier of origin. These standards are recognized by major bullion market participants worldwide and provide a reliable baseline for verifying the coin's specifications.

We work with reputable mints, refineries, and established distributors, and every product we carry is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before it is made available to customers. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we maintain the authentication standards consistent with those relationships, which is particularly relevant for Lunar coins that may carry additional numismatic interest beyond their base metal content.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated describes a coin that has been struck for collector and bullion purposes and has not been placed into circulation. BU coins exhibit full mint luster with sharp strike detail across all design elements. While BU coins may show minor contact marks from handling or transport during the production and packaging process, these are not considered flaws and do not affect the coin's grading classification within that range.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve condition during transit. The standard tube for Australian Lunar quarter-ounce gold coins holds 20 pieces, and orders at that quantity ship in a sealed tube. Larger orders are packaged in sealed boxes consistent with The Perth Mint's standard outer packaging for this series. Packaging is handled to minimize unnecessary contact and maintain the coin's presentation upon arrival.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin is calculated using the current spot price of gold, adjusted to reflect the quarter-ounce weight, plus a premium that reflects the production cost, collectible demand, and market positioning of the Australian Lunar Series II. Because The Perth Mint produces fractional Lunar coins in limited annual quantities with no re-strikes after the year closes, premiums on retired years like 2017 are often supported by ongoing collector interest beyond standard bullion demand.

Our pricing is updated in real time to reflect current market conditions, and the bid/ask spread displayed on the product page provides a transparent view of both the acquisition cost and the current buyback value. Understanding both sides of that relationship gives a more complete picture of the true cost of ownership, which we believe is a more honest way to evaluate any bullion purchase.

Selling and Liquidity

The Australian Lunar Series II is one of the most widely recognized government-issued gold coin programs in the world, and the .9999 fine gold specification ensures broad acceptance across bullion markets globally. Quarter-ounce gold coins in this series trade actively and are readily understood by dealers, brokers, and secondary market buyers familiar with Perth Mint products. The coin's legal tender backing, clearly stamped weight and purity, and recognizable mintmark all contribute to straightforward identification at resale.

We operate a two-way market, which means customers can sell coins back to us using competitive buyback pricing within the same platform where they purchased. Liquidity is something we think should be considered before a purchase is made, and the live bid pricing we display is designed to give you a realistic view of current market conditions on both sides of the transaction.

Why Buy the 2017 Australia Gold Lunar Rooster?

The 2017 Gold Lunar Rooster combines the credibility of Perth Mint production with the collectible appeal of a single-year design that will never be re-struck within Series II. For buyers who prioritize .9999 fine gold from a sovereign mint with a long and well-documented production history, this coin checks all the fundamental criteria. The fractional quarter-ounce size adds practical flexibility that full-ounce coins do not provide at the same price point.

The Rooster's cultural significance within the Chinese Zodiac also gives this coin a dimension of demand that extends beyond standard bullion buyers. Collector interest in Lunar coins tends to be durable across market cycles, particularly for earlier years in the series that have had time to grow scarcer in BU condition. That broader demand base distinguishes the Lunar Rooster from generic fractional gold products that carry no design-specific identity.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a precious metals dealer since 2010, and our approach has remained consistent throughout: transparent pricing, honest market information, and a buying experience built around long-term trust rather than pressure-based sales tactics. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau, membership in the American Numismatic Association, and membership in the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect the standards we hold ourselves to across every transaction.

As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we are positioned to handle products across the full spectrum from standard bullion to graded numismatic coins, and we apply the same authentication standards regardless of product type. Every item we carry is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before it reaches a customer. We source products from reputable mints and established distributors, and we back that sourcing with responsive customer support and reliable fulfillment processes designed to make the experience straightforward from purchase through delivery.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products including fractional gold coins like the 2017 Lunar Rooster. Rather than working from indicative or estimated prices, Pro members see real-time pricing that reflects actual wholesale market conditions, which allows for a more precise comparison of premiums, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity across the catalog. Portfolio valuations within Pro are calculated using current wholesale bid prices, giving members a realistic view of liquidation value rather than a retail-based estimate.

For a coin with both bullion and collector characteristics, the proprietary research and analytics tools available through Pro can add meaningful context. Historical premium data, spread analysis, and market intelligence tools allow members to evaluate how this specific product has traded relative to its spot-adjusted value over time, helping them understand the premium they are paying and what conditions have historically influenced it. That kind of product-level transparency is not typically available through traditional retail dealer platforms.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make the purchasing process straightforward and secure. Accepted credit and debit cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments processed through BitPay. Each payment method is integrated with a secure transaction environment designed to protect your information and confirm your order efficiently.

Whether you prefer the speed of a wire transfer, the convenience of a credit card, or the flexibility of cryptocurrency, we have structured our checkout process to accommodate different preferences without adding unnecessary friction. Our goal is to make completing a purchase as simple and confident an experience as finding the right product in the first place.

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