10 oz Lunar III Year of Horse Golden Coin | 2026

10 oz Lunar III Year of the Horse 2026 — premium collector with the LOWEST mintage in the cycle of ~750 pieces

The 10 oz Lunar III Year of the Horse 2026 gold coin is a premium collector item of the official Lunar III series by Perth Mint with 311.03 g of .9999 gold, a 60 mm diameter and a 1000 Australian dollar face value as legal tender of the Commonwealth of Australia. The 2026 vintage marks the third year of the Lunar III series (after the Dragon 2024 and the Snake 2025) and the second Horse in Perth Mint Lunar history after the Lunar II Horse 2014. The 10 oz fractional stands out with the LOWEST mintage of the cycle (~750 pcs) — fortyfold lower than the 1 oz (~30,000 pcs) and fourfold lower than the 2 oz (~3,000 pcs). Premium prestige collector item with a stable 3-6% premium over spot. The coin is VAT-exempt in the EU and carries Perth Mint LBMA Good Delivery accreditation.

Technical specification

Why this coin earns a place in your stack

• LOWEST mintage in the Lunar III Horse cycle — ~750 pcs: the 10 oz Lunar III Horse has a declared maximum mintage of approx. 750 pieces — fortyfold lower than the 1 oz (~30,000 pcs) and fourfold lower than the 2 oz (~3,000 pcs). A prestige collector item with a strong scarcity thesis on the Perth Mint Lunar secondary market.
• Second Horse in Perth Mint Lunar history: Year of the Horse 2026 marks the return of the motif after the Lunar II Horse 2014 — the 10 oz Lunar II Horse 2014 fractional achieved an analogously low mintage of 750 pcs and is now in collector circulation with a significant vintage premium, often above the declared nominal price at issue time.
• Maximum composition detail: the 60 mm diameter and 8.5 mm thickness provide the largest design field among the four popular Lunar III Horse fractionals — allowing detailed rendering of coat, muscles, gallop limbs and mane motion on a scale where every sculptural detail is legible under normal viewing.
• Perth Mint LBMA accreditation: Perth Mint holds London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery accreditation since 1899 — the oldest active LBMA status among mints producing modern bullion coins, ensuring global recognition and market acceptance also for large fractionals.
• VAT-exempt in the EU: .9999 fineness clears the above-900 requirement for bullion coins with margin (Directive 2006/112/EC, Art. 344), and Australia's legal-tender status completes the criteria.

History of the Perth Mint Lunar series — from 1996 (Lunar I) to the 2026 vintage (Lunar III)

The Perth Mint Lunar series was launched in 1996 with the Year of the Mouse issue as a response to growing global demand for bullion coins featuring Chinese/Asian zodiac motifs. The Lunar I cycle covered 1996-2007 and the full 12-year zodiac calendar — the first Year of the Horse appeared in the Lunar I cycle in 2002. The 10 oz fractional was introduced to the Lunar I cycle as a large prestigious collector fractional.

The Lunar II cycle covered 2008-2019 and brought the second edition of the full zodiac calendar with refreshed reverse art designs — the Year of the Horse 2014 is the second Horse vintage in Perth Mint Lunar history. The 10 oz Lunar II Horse 2014 fractional reached a mintage of 750 pcs — identical to the planned mintage for the current Lunar III Horse 2026, creating consistent mintage policy for the largest fractionals across both Lunar series.

The Lunar III cycle covers 2024-2035 and is the currently running series — the Year of the Dragon 2024 launched the third cycle, the Year of the Snake 2025 was the second vintage, and the Year of the Horse 2026 is the third Lunar III vintage and the second Horse in the cyclical history of the Perth Mint Lunar series. Lunar III retains the Perth Mint art design and .9999 fineness of the previous Lunar II, while changing the monarch portrait on the obverse — from Elizabeth II to Charles III from the 2024 vintage.

Perth Mint was founded in 1899 as a branch of the British Royal Mint in Australia, in response to the gold-mining boom in Western Australia (Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie). The mint holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation for gold and silver since 1899 — the oldest active LBMA status among mints producing modern bullion coins.

The horse symbol in the Chinese/Asian zodiac represents strength, dynamics, freedom and success in career and travel — the Horse is the seventh of twelve animals in the zodiac cycle, associated with the fire element and afternoon hours (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.). The fire-element symbolism of the Horse makes the 10 oz Lunar Horse a particularly representative choice for important family or business occasions linked with the Year of the Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026).

Obverse — portrait of King Charles III

The obverse of the 10 oz Lunar III Horse 2026 features the portrait of King Charles III in the version developed by the Perth Mint design team for the Lunar III cycle from 2024 — the first appearance of the Charles III portrait on Perth Mint coins after his accession to the throne in 2022. The portrait preserves the heraldic tradition of Commonwealth coins with the monarch facing left.

Around the portrait are the inscriptions CHARLES III, AUSTRALIA and the face-value 1000 DOLLARS, identifying the coin as legal tender of the Commonwealth of Australia worth 1000 Australian dollars — the highest face value among the four popular Lunar III Horse fractionals and one of the highest nominal values of Commonwealth of Australia bullion coins in circulation. The mass and fineness inscription 10 oz 9999 GOLD confirms the technical specification of the coin.

The 60 mm obverse field allows the maximum detail depth of the Charles III portrait among all four popular Lunar III Horse fractionals — rich rendering of facial, hair and monarchal regalia details plus background micro-texture. The 10 oz fractional is chosen by collectors valuing the highest portrait quality as an equivalent artistic element alongside the reverse motif.

Reverse — horse motif in the Lunar III 2026 cycle

The reverse of the 10 oz Lunar III Horse 2026 features a composition of a horse in full gallop with a wind-blown mane, designed by the Perth Mint art team under the direction of chief engraver Ing Ing Jong (Perth Mint chief engraver, designer of the Lunar series since the Lunar II cycle). The 60 mm reverse field provides the greatest compositional freedom among the four popular Lunar III Horse fractionals — allowing rich rendering of the sculptural context and every anatomical detail of the horse.

The reverse carries the inscription YEAR OF THE HORSE and the Chinese character 馬 (mǎ — horse) according to the convention of the Perth Mint Lunar series. The P inscription (Perth Mint mintmark) identifies the coin's origin. The 60 mm reverse field size allows the inscriptions and Chinese character to be scaled to a size legible from a distance of several dozen centimetres without magnification.

The sculptural details of the horse — coat texture, muscle modelling, leg arrangement in the gallop and mane motion — are kept to the highest Perth Mint production standard for flagship prestige collector fractionals. The 60 mm reverse field allows rendering of sculptural subtleties at a level approaching proof coins, although the coin is standardly struck in bullion strike technology — which sets the 10 oz Lunar III Horse apart from the other three fractionals.

What to check when buying

Inspect the integrity of the original Perth Mint capsule — the 8.5 mm thickness and 60 mm diameter make the 10 oz Lunar Horse well protected in the capsule, but the coin's weight (311.03 g + capsule mass) requires care when handling — a fall from height can damage the capsule and the coin's mirror field. Micro-scratches have a greater impact on resale value than on smaller fractionals due to the high nominal unit value.

The premium on the 10 oz Lunar Horse 2026 is the lowest among the four popular Lunar III Horse fractionals — typically 3-6% in the European retail segment, despite the lowest cycle mintage (~750 pcs). Market data for the Lunar II 10 oz Horse 2014 show that the premium rises over time with mintage absorption — for the Lunar III Horse 2026 similar dynamics should be expected in a 5-10 year horizon from issue.

CGT-free status does NOT apply to the Lunar III Horse in the United Kingdom — Capital Gains Tax exemption in the UK covers exclusively coins with British legal tender (Britannia, Sovereign, Gold Sovereign), and the Perth Mint Lunar despite its Australian legal-tender status does not qualify for this exemption. For UK portfolios with tax optimisation, Britannia or Sovereign work better — particularly important at high unit values like 10 oz.

IRA-eligible status does NOT apply to the Lunar III Horse in the USA — American Individual Retirement Accounts for precious metals admit exclusively American coins (American Gold Eagle, Gold Buffalo) or bullion from accredited refineries. The Perth Mint Lunar is not admitted to IRAs despite the Perth Mint LBMA accreditation.

Why GoldInvest24

• Manufacturers with LBMA accreditation: in the catalogue you will find coins and bars from mints accredited by the London Bullion Market Association — Perth Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery status since 1899, the oldest active status among mints producing modern bullion coins.
• Full Lunar III size range: the 1/4 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz and 10 oz versions of the Lunar III Horse 2026 are available in one shop — allowing the build of a portfolio diversified by unit value and collector mintage.
• Language versions PL / DE / EN: full technical descriptions and specifications in three languages for convenient handling of the Polish, German and international markets.
• Current precious-metals quotes: spot data for comparing offer prices with current market valuation — check current metals prices before purchase.
• Full metals categories in one shop: access to gold bullion coins, bars, silver, platinum and palladium — all from one customer account.

Comparison of 4 Lunar III Horse 2026 fractionals with 1 oz Maple Leaf

See the full category of gold bullion coins available at GoldInvest24.

FAQ — common questions about the 10 oz Lunar III Horse 2026

What is the 10 oz Lunar III Year of the Horse 2026 and who strikes it?

The 10 oz Lunar III Year of the Horse 2026 is a premium collector item of the official Lunar III series by Perth Mint in Australia — a mint with LBMA Good Delivery accreditation since 1899. The 10 oz fractional has 311.03 g of .9999 gold, a 60 mm diameter and a 1000 Australian dollar face value as legal tender of the Commonwealth of Australia. The 2026 vintage is the third year of the Lunar III cycle and the second Horse in Perth Mint Lunar history after the Lunar II Horse 2014.

What is the technical specification of the 10 oz Lunar Horse 2026?

Gold mass 311.03 g (10 oz), fineness 999.9/1000, diameter 60 mm, thickness approx. 8.5 mm, face value 1000 AUD — the highest face value among popular Lunar III Horse fractionals. The obverse features the portrait of King Charles III, the reverse — a composition of a horse in gallop with the Chinese character 馬 (mǎ) and the inscription YEAR OF THE HORSE. The P mintmark identifies Perth Mint. The typical mintage of the 10 oz Lunar Horse is approx. 750 pieces — the LOWEST in the Lunar III Horse cycle.

How do the Perth Mint Lunar I, Lunar II and Lunar III series differ?

Lunar I covered 1996-2007 and the first complete 12-animal zodiac cycle (Year of the Horse 2002). Lunar II covered 2008-2019 and the second cycle with refreshed designs (Year of the Horse 2014, 10 oz mintage 750 pcs). Lunar III runs 2024-2035 and is the current series with the Charles III portrait on the obverse instead of Elizabeth II.

How does the 10 oz Lunar Horse 2026 differ from the Lunar II Horse 2014 and the 1 oz Maple Leaf?

The 10 oz Lunar III Horse 2026 has the Charles III portrait and a new reverse design from the 2024+ cycle, while the 10 oz Lunar II Horse 2014 has the Elizabeth II portrait and the classic 2008-2019 cycle design — both in the identical 10 oz fractional and 750 pcs mintage. Versus the 1 oz Maple Leaf — the 10 oz Lunar Horse differs by tenfold larger gold mass (311.03 g vs 31.103 g), practically unlimited vs limited mintage (unlimited Maple Leaf vs ~750 pcs Lunar Horse) and a prestige collector function instead of neutral bullion.

For whom is the 10 oz Lunar Horse 2026 a practical choice?

For advanced Asian and European collectors building a complete Lunar III vintage set in the largest prestige fractionals, for portfolios with a strong vintage scarcity thesis, and for buyers acquiring the coin as a representative high-unit-value gift for those born in the Year of the Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026). The 3-6% premium is the lowest in the Lunar III Horse cycle, but the unit value of the coin excludes it from portfolios with a small starting budget.

What is the LBMA, VAT, CGT and IRA status of the Lunar Horse 2026?

LBMA Good Delivery — YES (Perth Mint holds the status since 1899). VAT in the EU — EXEMPT (.9999 fineness and Australia legal tender meet Directive 2006/112/EC, Art. 344). CGT-free in the United Kingdom — NO (CGT exemption in the UK covers exclusively coins with British legal tender such as Britannia or Sovereign, not Commonwealth coins from other countries — particularly important at high unit values). IRA-eligible in the USA — NO (the IRS admits exclusively American coins to retirement accounts).

How do I buy the 10 oz Lunar III Horse 2026 at GoldInvest24?

Place an order in our shop with access to the gold bullion coins category, the full range of Lunar III Horse 2026 fractionals (1/4 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 10 oz) and the offer of LBMA manufacturers. Check the current gold quotes to compare the premium against the current spot price. Technical descriptions and specifications are available in PL / DE / EN language versions.