2 oz Lunar III, Year of the Snake 2025
Two troy ounces of 99.99 gold: 62.213 g, up to 40.90 mm across and 3.80 mm thick, face value 200 Australian dollars.
Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Metal |
Gold |
| Fineness |
99.99 |
| Weight |
62.213 g (2 troy ounces) |
| Diameter |
up to 40.90 mm |
| Thickness |
up to 3.80 mm |
| Face value |
200 Australian dollars |
| Year |
2025 |
| Country |
Australia |
| Mint |
The Perth Mint |
| Mintage |
Unlimited |
The Lunar series and the snake
Lunar Series III began in 2019 and runs one animal a year through the Chinese zodiac. The 2025 issue is the Year of the Snake.
The reverse, by Sean Rogers, shows a snake coiled among bamboo stems with the Chinese character for snake, the inscription SNAKE 2025 and the Perth Mint’s P mintmark. The obverse is the Dan Thorne effigy of King Charles III.
A security letter in the design
The Perth Mint places a micro-engraved letter within the design of the larger Lunar coins, visible only under magnification. It is an authentication feature rather than a decorative one.
Why buy a larger coin
On a two ounce coin the mint’s cost is spread over twice the metal of a one ounce piece, so the premium per gram is lower. The trade-off is that you cannot sell half of it.
VAT and UK capital gains tax
HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The Lunar coin is 99.99 fine, Australian legal tender and sold on the gold price, so it meets all three tests.
Capital gains tax is a separate matter. The UK exemption follows sterling legal tender, so it covers Sovereigns and Britannias but not an Australian coin. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.
Questions buyers ask
How much gold is in it? 62.213 g, two troy ounces, at 99.99 fineness.
Who designed the reverse? Sean Rogers; the obverse effigy of King Charles III is by Dan Thorne.
Is there a mintage cap? No. The gold bullion Lunar sizes are uncapped during their issue year.
What is the micro-engraved letter? A small security letter placed within the design, readable under magnification.
Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.