2019 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Pig (Series II) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.47
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $28.88

Product ID: BST-0016430E92

Specifications

Year 2019
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.9999
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 2019 Australian Silver Lunar Pig (Series II)

The 2019 half-ounce Australian Silver Lunar Pig is a legal tender coin issued by The Perth Mint under the long-running Australian Lunar Series II program. Struck in .999 fine silver with a net weight of 0.5 troy ounces, it carries a face value authorized by the Australian government and bears the "P" mintmark identifying it as a Perth Mint issue. The coin is produced in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the consistent minting standards The Perth Mint has maintained across its entire Lunar Series output.

We carry this coin as part of a broader selection of fractional and full-ounce Lunar Series issues, making it straightforward for buyers to fill gaps in a set or acquire individual pieces based on their preferences.

History and Background

The Australian Lunar Series II launched in 2008 as the successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 through 2007. Each annual release in the series corresponds to an animal in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar, cycling through all twelve signs over a twelve-year span. The Pig, representing the twelfth and final sign in the zodiac cycle, was featured i

Overview of the 2019 Australian Silver Lunar Pig (Series II)

The 2019 half-ounce Australian Silver Lunar Pig is a legal tender coin issued by The Perth Mint under the long-running Australian Lunar Series II program. Struck in .999 fine silver with a net weight of 0.5 troy ounces, it carries a face value authorized by the Australian government and bears the "P" mintmark identifying it as a Perth Mint issue. The coin is produced in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, reflecting the consistent minting standards The Perth Mint has maintained across its entire Lunar Series output.

We carry this coin as part of a broader selection of fractional and full-ounce Lunar Series issues, making it straightforward for buyers to fill gaps in a set or acquire individual pieces based on their preferences.

History and Background

The Australian Lunar Series II launched in 2008 as the successor to the original Lunar Series I, which ran from 1996 through 2007. Each annual release in the series corresponds to an animal in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar, cycling through all twelve signs over a twelve-year span. The Pig, representing the twelfth and final sign in the zodiac cycle, was featured in 2019, completing the full Series II rotation.

The Perth Mint has operated continuously since 1899 and holds a well-established position among the world's most respected sovereign mints. It operates under the authority of the Western Australian state government and produces coins on behalf of the Australian federal government, giving its issues full legal tender status. The Lunar Series specifically has built a loyal following among both thematic collectors and silver stackers, owing to the consistent quality and the annual design changes that distinguish each release.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2019 Lunar Pig coin features a detailed depiction of a pig set against a natural, textured background that reflects the artistic character The Perth Mint brings to each Lunar Series release. The design incorporates Chinese script alongside the inscription "Year of the Pig," the weight, purity, and the 2019 date, giving the reverse a clean but information-rich composition. The fine relief work and precise die engraving are characteristic of the high-strike quality Perth Mint applies to this series.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was standard across Commonwealth coins issued prior to the transition following her passing. The portrait is surrounded by the denomination, "AUSTRALIA," and identifying legends consistent with other Perth Mint legal tender coinage from this period. Together, the obverse and reverse create a balanced and visually distinctive coin that holds its own as a standalone design piece within the broader series.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half an ounce, this coin occupies a practical middle ground between the smallest fractional sizes and the standard one-ounce format. For buyers who want exposure to a specific Lunar year design without committing to a full-ounce piece, the half-ounce format delivers the same artistic presentation and .999 silver content at a lower per-unit cost. It also allows collectors building complete Lunar sets to add multiple denominations for the same year without significantly increasing their overall outlay.

The fractional format can also suit buyers looking to hold silver in smaller, more divisible units, where individual pieces represent more manageable increments than full-ounce coins. The half-ounce size retains strong recognizability and carries the same sovereign-minted credentials as larger issues in the series.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every 2019 Lunar Pig half-ounce coin is struck by The Perth Mint to .999 fine silver with a certified weight of 0.5 troy ounces, meeting the exacting production standards the mint applies across its full precious metals output. The Perth Mint's reputation for consistent die quality and weight accuracy is well established in the global bullion market, and each coin is produced under Australian government oversight as a legal tender issue.

We verify authenticity and condition on all products that pass through our hands before they are made available for purchase. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we operate within a grading and authentication framework that reinforces our broader commitment to product integrity. Buyers can purchase this coin with confidence that what they receive accurately reflects the specifications listed.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, often abbreviated as BU, indicates a coin struck for collector and bullion markets rather than for general circulation. BU coins are produced with sharp strikes and full luster, with no deliberate post-mint handling or artificial toning. They are not held to the same standard as professionally graded Mint State coins, but they represent the highest condition tier available for standard bullion-grade production.

Individual half-ounce Lunar Pig coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve their condition during transit. Orders at the tube quantity ship in a sealed coin tube, which is the standard inner pack format for this series. Larger bulk orders ship in sealed boxes containing the full outer pack quantity. The Perth Mint packages these coins to protect the finish and strike quality through the distribution process, and we maintain that packaging integrity through to delivery.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 2019 Lunar Pig half-ounce coin is based on the current spot price of silver, with a premium applied above that baseline. Premiums on Lunar Series coins reflect several converging factors: the sovereign issuer status of The Perth Mint, the annual design changes that drive collector demand, the relatively limited mintages compared to standard bullion coins, and the production quality required to consistently achieve BU strikes across the full series run.

The 2019 date adds a secondary layer to pricing considerations, as this coin completed the Series II twelve-year cycle, making it the final issue in a set that many collectors were assembling over the full run. Coins that mark a series milestone can carry premiums that diverge from typical secondary market behavior for mid-series dates. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions and is displayed transparently so buyers understand exactly what they are paying relative to spot.

Selling and Liquidity

Australian Lunar Series coins from The Perth Mint are widely recognized across global precious metals markets, and the half-ounce format trades within a well-established ecosystem of buyers and sellers familiar with the series. The combination of sovereign-minted status, .999 silver purity, and the collector appeal of the zodiac theme supports consistent demand in both primary and secondary markets.

We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can sell as well as buy within the same platform using competitive buyback pricing. Liquidity is best understood before a purchase is made rather than at the point of sale, and our bid/ask spreads, which are displayed on each product page, give buyers a clear picture of the current market structure for this specific coin. Understanding both sides of the transaction from the outset leads to more informed decisions.

Why Buy the 2019 Australian Silver Lunar Pig?

The 2019 Lunar Pig carries both bullion and thematic value that distinguishes it from generic silver rounds or standard one-ounce sovereign coins. As the final release in the Series II cycle, it holds a meaningful position for collectors who follow the zodiac calendar and for those who were building a complete twelve-year set. That completion narrative supports sustained demand from set collectors even years after the original issue date.

The Perth Mint's production quality is a consistent draw for buyers who care about strike sharpness and surface presentation, not just metal content. The half-ounce format specifically makes this an accessible entry point for buyers who want the full Lunar Pig design without the cost commitment of a larger denomination, and it stacks well within a broader collection of fractional silver from reputable sovereign mints.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating in the physical precious metals market since 2010 and have built our reputation on transparent pricing, product authenticity, and customer relationships that extend well beyond a single transaction. Our pricing is structured around real-time market conditions rather than fixed retail markups, and the bid/ask spread visible on each product page reflects what we are both willing to sell and willing to buy at current market levels. There are no hidden layers in how we price.

We carry an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and hold active memberships in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association. Our authorized dealer status with PCGS and NGC reinforces the authentication standards we hold across our catalog. Every product we ship has been verified for authenticity, weight, and purity. Our customer service team is accessible and knowledgeable, and our fulfillment process is designed to be reliable and straightforward from the moment an order is placed through to delivery.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on coins like the 2019 Lunar Pig half-ounce, allowing them to see exactly how the product is priced and traded at the wholesale level in real time. Rather than static retail prices, Pro members transact at executable market prices that fluctuate naturally based on underlying supply and demand, with no additional dealer markups layered on top. For a coin where premiums and secondary market dynamics can shift meaningfully based on collector activity and series completion demand, this level of pricing visibility is genuinely useful.

Pro also includes proprietary research and comparison tools that allow members to evaluate this coin alongside others using objective metrics such as historical premiums, bid/ask spread tightness, and liquidity indicators. Portfolio holdings are valued using live wholesale bid prices rather than estimated retail values, giving members a more accurate picture of what their silver is worth at current market conditions rather than what it might fetch at retail. For buyers who want to move beyond surface-level pricing and understand the market dynamics behind what they own, Pro provides the analytical depth to do that.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make the purchasing process as straightforward and secure as possible. Buyers can complete transactions using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, or bank-connected payments through Plaid for direct account transfers. Wire transfer and paper check are also accepted for those who prefer traditional payment channels.

For buyers who prefer digital currency, we accept cryptocurrency payments through BitPay, covering a broad selection of supported coins. Every payment method we offer is integrated with secure transaction processing to protect your financial information throughout the checkout process. Our goal is to remove unnecessary friction from the buying experience while maintaining the security standards that customers in the precious metals market rightly expect.

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