A Lunar theme can give a silver collection structure without making every coin look the same. In this video I open a delivery from Japan and explore three series whose approaches to the zodiac are quite distinct: Perth Mint, Royal Australian Mint and the Rwandan African Lunar coins.
Perth Mint’s changing scenes
The Perth Mint Lunar Series III discussion runs from the Year of the Mouse in 2020 through the Horse in 2026. The appeal is in seeing how the animals and their surroundings change while the collection remains recognisably part of one series.
The video also considers the change in monarch portraits from Elizabeth II to Charles III. Those differences can become part of how a collector reads a sequence of annual releases, rather than a detail confined to the reverse design.
Mosaics and a complete zodiac
The Rwandan African Lunar coins, produced by BH Mayer in Germany, stand out for their mosaic-style treatment. The Royal Australian Mint takes another approach, including all twelve zodiac animals around the monarch on the obverse.
Looking across those designs makes the choice more interesting than simply deciding which year you need next. You may prefer a detailed scene, an abstract treatment or the way the whole coin is balanced. Colourised versions add another choice, with their own premium and audience.
Build a collection at your own pace
A series can be enjoyable without being completed immediately. Work out which issues and finishes you actually want, then compare condition, capsules, delivery and the premium before filling a gap. An empty space in a box is not a reason to ignore the price.
The episode includes a tribute to Stephen, known as God’s Money, whose knowledge and kindness helped inspire my Lunar collecting. That personal connection is part of the collection’s story, alongside the designs themselves.
