Dragon & Pearl coin celebrates Chinese culture in two ounces of silver with a rotating centre

Very much in the style and format of such previous hits as Alice in Wonderland and the Compass coins, the Perth Mint’s new Dragon & Pearl release shrinks it down to an ounce in weight – half that of its spiritual predecessors.

Dragon & Pearl is steeped in Chinese culture and uses imagery from that country with its depictions of dragons. A thick reeded edge surrounds the ring-shaped coin with the hole in the middle holding a ‘pearl’, actually formed from a pearl-like shell material. This is mounted with a pin through it that allows it to rotate in place. It would have been nice to see this pearl details with some engraving for example, but it’s certainly unusual. The coin design is a circular tapestry of two dragons in the Chinese-style that was realised by regular in-house designer Ing Ing Jong.

The obverse has been enhanced considerably from the usual full-size effigy of Queen Elizabeth II that adorns coins issued for Tuvalu. A small effigy at the top is accompanied by the usual issuer, date and denomination inscriptions and there’s a good-looking beaded ring between them and the centrally mounted ‘pearl’. Packaging comprises the usual Perth Mint grey snapper box inside a themed outer shipper. A certificate of authenticity accompanies each of the coins of which up to 3,000 will be minted. Selling for $129.00 AUD, it should be available now from the Perth Mint, or from many of our sponsors.