Australian Lunar Gold Coins

**GoldBugJax** Totally agree with OP on the Lunar series. I picked up a couple of those 1/2 oz dragons back in 2012 when I started my Gold IRA after reading some stuff on *GIRAB* about physical diversification. The premiums weren't crazy then, and they've held their value beautifully. Makes the quarterly reports a lot less stressful knowing I've got some solid bullion in there.

I've always been a fan of the Perth Mint's Lunar Series. The low mintage numbers for certain years, especially the earlier releases, really drive up the numismatic value beyond just the gold spot price. I managed to snag a couple of those Series I horses back in the day, and they've done better than I ever expected. Definitely worth considering these if you're looking to diversify with something that holds collector appeal.

My neighbor, a serious coin collector, actually got me into the Lunar Series. I was planning on just sticking with Eagles and Buffalos for my IRA, but he kept showing off these gorgeous Perth Mint designs. Ended up allocating about 10k of my last rollover into Lunar Pigs and Dragons – mostly the 1 oz. coins. The premiums were a bit higher than the standard bullion, but the resale value on those visually appealing ones has actually held up surprisingly well, even when gold dips a little. Plus, they look fantastic in the vault pictures my custodian sends me.

The Lunar series is really something else. I remember back in 2017, I got my hands on a couple of the Rooster coins for my Gold IRA. Picked them up from a dealer out of Scottsdale – solid premium but the craftsmanship was undeniable. They've held their value beautifully, though I kinda wish I'd grabbed more when the price was a bit lower. Hindsight, right? Still, a great way to add some numismatic appeal to the portfolio without going full collector.

I was burnt years ago on some numismatic silver with ridiculous premiums from another dealer, so I always approached anything "collectible" with massive skepticism. Honestly, I didn't expect much from another gold forum but GIRAB actually surprised me; some of the threads here about balancing bullion and semi-numismatics got me thinking. I picked up a couple of these Lunar Series III dragons last year. The premiums are still a bit higher than straight AGEs, but they're gorgeous coins and they've held their value strong in my IRA so far. Glad I branched out.

Yeah, same here. I had a really bad experience with a dealer out of Texas pushing some proof coins that turned out to be a rip-off a few years back. Ended up selling them for basically spot months later. I was super skeptical about any kind of numismatic gold after that, but the breakdowns on GIRAB comparing premiums for Lunars and other semi-numismatics vs. just plain bullion were actually really eye-opening. Ended up dipping my toe in this past year with some 1/4 oz Lunars from a reputable firm after seeing their fee structure reviewed here, and I'm pretty pleased with their performance so far. Always worth running the numbers.

Man, these Lunar coins bring back memories. My dad was always a silver bug, but back in '08, when the housing market cratered and the fear was palpable even out here in Virginia Beach, I finally pulled the trigger on my first meaningful gold purchase. I remember agonizing over putting $50k into physical gold, specifically those beautiful 1 oz Australian Lunar Dragon coins. Took me a year to even touch them after they arrived; just sat in the safe. Now? It’s arguably the best financial decision I ever made outside of buying property downtown. Seeing those premiums over the years just sealed the deal for me.

Honestly, I've always found the premium on those Lunar series coins a bit… optimistic. My first dive years ago into physical was a handful of these, thinking the collectible angle would be a bonus, but for actual wealth preservation, I've come to see them as less efficient than plain Maples or Buffalos. You pay for the aesthetics more than the metal, in my experience, and once you’re talking about significant weight, that premium starts looking like dead money.

@Timothy Reed Man, that's rough! It really highlights why doing your homework on dealers and specific products is so crucial. I’m just starting to put my toe in the water with precious metals, focusing on getting my retirement savings sorted. I've only got about 30k in my current portfolio, mostly in a traditional 401k, and I'm seriously considering a 401k rollover into a gold IRA. I'm down here in Charleston, SC, and the idea of having some physical assets instead of just paper is really appealing. I even used the IRA Calculator from the sidebar and was surprised by the projections and the potential tax advantages.

These lunar coins are beautiful, no doubt. My metals dealer in Boise was really pushing the 2024 Dragon design. For anyone who's actually bought these specifically for a Gold IRA, have you found the premiums on these to be consistently higher than, say, American Gold Eagles, enough to noticeably impact your long-term gains, or do they hold their numismatic value better over time to balance that out?

Interesting thread. I'm a newbie here to gold IRAs after converting about 20% of my portfolio this year. My financial advisor back in Dallas wasn't too keen on physical gold at first, so I had to do a lot of homework myself. I've been looking at American Eagles and Canadian Maples, but these Lunar coins from Perth Mint are new to me. Are the premiums usually higher on these compared to standard bullion coins, and does that affect their liquidity much if I ever needed to sell?

@Thomas Walker – Lunar Series, huh? That really hits home. For years, I just stuck with what felt "safe" – the Eagles and Buffalos were my comfort blanket, especially after my 401k took a beating back in '08. I was living in Little Rock, watching my nest egg, which I’d worked my butt off for two decades building, just… evaporate. It was soul-crushing, seeing all that hard work turn into an abstract number that kept shrinking. My wife, bless her heart, kept saying we needed to diversify, but I was so burned by the market I just wanted tangible assets, something I could hold. Gold felt right, but the idea of anything "collectible" seemed… risky. Foolish, even. I remember seeing those Perth Mint designs online, thinking they looked pretty, but dismissing them as just fancy coins for collectors, not serious investors. More like a distraction than a real wealth preservation tool. Then, a few years back, my brother-in-law, who’s always been more adventurous with his investments, started talking up the Lunar Series. He had the Dragon and the Snake, and honestly, the artistry was stunning in person.

@Thomas Walker Lunar Series, huh? I gotta say, your neighbor might be onto something. I used to be all Eagles and Buffalos too, figured those were the only "safe" bet for an IRA. When I first started looking into diversifying, my first three calls with different IRA companies were straight-up nightmares – felt like I was talking to used car salesmen, not financial advisors. I actually stumbled onto GIRAB looking for "gold IRA companies to avoid" after one particularly bad call, and this place really helped me sort through the noise. I ended up diving into the Perth Mint Lunars myself, even picked up a few of the Dragon and Tiger coins. The premiums are a little higher than Eagles, sure, but the resale value on some of those early series is genuinely impressive. Plus, they're just *beautiful* coins, which doesn't hurt. It's nice to have something a bit more unique than just another stack of identical Eagles in the vault. And honestly, it feels good knowing my IRA isn't *just* the same old stuff everyone else has.

Absolutely love the Lunar series. My first serious gold purchase back in 2008 shortly after the financial crisis was an entire set of 1oz gold Lunar I dogs. Paid a premium, but they’ve been a fantastic hold for two reasons – obviously the gold value, but also that numismatic premium has held remarkably well. Always worth checking the mintage figures on these, lower numbers mean better potential for future collectibility.

@Joyce Cooper – I hear you on the comfort of Eagles and Buffalos, especially after a tough market. For a while, I was in the same boat here in Atlanta, just sticking to the classics. But honestly, a lot of the initial hype around Lunar coins, especially for their potential numismatic value *beyond* spot, always felt a bit… squishy to me. While beautiful, isn't it still a bet on future collector demand rather than just the underlying metal? I've always prioritized holding the maximum amount of gold for my dollar, and sometimes those premiums for "limited edition" coins feel like I'm paying for marketing more than enduring value.

Those Perth Mint Lunar coins are fantastic, especially for diversifying beyond just standard bullion. I picked up a few of the latest Dragon series 1oz in Gold for my IRA recently. For anyone looking for *real*-time spot prices for these and other fractional gold, I've found Kitco's app pretty reliable, updates faster than some other sites I've seen. Makes tracking easier when you're thinking about adding more.