Australia announced the release of two different styles of 2009 Silver animal "Year of the OX" coins for 2009. Sometimes called ox or bull silver coins, these coins celebrate the Chinese lunar calendar animal. Slated for production and release during 2009, these coins are a favorite for collectors in and outside of the USA.

Series I "Year of the OX"

The first design OX coin to be released with a date of 2009 is from what has been called the Series 1 lunar coins. Australia began minting silver Animal coins celebrating the Chinese lunar year in 1999, with the Year of the Rabbit silver coins. Each year thereafter, they have minted a new design to celebrate the current animal for that year. The animals in the Chinese lunar calendar repeats themselves every twelve years. Therefore the series one set will be finished in 2010 (12th year) with the release of the "Year of the Tiger" silver coins.

2009 Year of the OX silver coins

Colorized 2009 OX silver coin- Series 2

Series II "Year of the OX"

In an unusual move, the Australia government's Perth Mint has also made another design "Year of the OX" coin for 2009.

Where gold investors buy precious metals.

Now, get a

FREE gram of gold

when you sign up!

It seems that back in 1996, the Australian Mint began a lunar series of "Gold" coins, starting with the Year of the Rat (or Year of the Mouse). This was the beginning of what has become the Series One "Gold" coins. However, it wasn't until 1999 that the mint began making the Series One "Silver" coins.

Because the gold series began in 1996, the series ended in 2007 (after 12 years). A new gold series (Series II) was started in 2008. At the same time, the silver series that began in 1999, was continuing until its 12th year (2010).

Not only did the mint change the design for the series 2 coins, they decided to make the "1 ounce" silver series 2 coins a little bigger so that more of the design could be noticed. The diameter is larger (45.10 mm) and the thickness is thinner (2.6mm) than the series 1 silver one oz coins. Of course, both styles retain the same amount of silver.

Why two series of Ox silver coins for 2009?

To make things easier in the future, the mint wanted any new series (for gold and silver coins) start and end in the same years. Thus they decided to begin a new series of silver lunar coins at the same time as the second series gold lunar coins was started (in 2008). The result is two different versions of silver lunar coins for the overlapped years of 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Various Sizes of Silver OX coins produced

In a rush to make both Series of OX coins dated 2009, the Australia Perth mint made only half ounce and one ounce uncirculated bullion SILVER coins for the Series I. However, for Series II there are various sizes available from half ounce all the way up to Kilo size. In addition, some limited mintages of attractive "colorized" silver 2009 ox coins were minted and released by the mint.

Back to more Coin Articles and News