5 oz Silver Chinese Mythical Creatures Dragon 2018 (Mintage: 500 | Antique Finish)
- High relief: every scale sculpted
- Perth Mint: from Australia
- Authenticity: numbered certificate
- High reliefThe dragon chases the pearl of wisdom through clouds
- Perth MintWorld-renowned and highly regarded among collectors
- AuthenticityIn the original box with illustrated packaging
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5 ounces fine silver
It breathes no fire. It brings the rain.
Dragon with Pearl 2018, side with the dragon
The dragon coils around a pearl bearing the character for dragon, in silver with an antique finish.
From the water into the clouds
It lives in the water and rises into the clouds.
Dragons have appeared in Chinese art since Neolithic times. No later than the Han dynasty, from 206 BC to AD 220, they were regarded as beings of water: they live in rivers and seas, fly up into the clouds, govern the weather and bring the life-giving rain.
This is how old books tell it: the dragon’s breath becomes clouds, and the clouds become rain or lightning. In winter it sleeps beneath rivers and ponds, in the first month of spring it rises, and then it thunders, and rain falls.
In China it stands for the beneficence of heaven. The dragons of Europe are mostly winged and breathe fire, while in East Asia the dragon is regarded as a benevolent being, usually without any wings.
“Above all things the dragon in China is a rain-maker.”
A dragon made of many animals
The antlers of the stag, the scales of the carp.
According to old tradition, the dragon is made up of parts of many animals: the antlers of the stag, the scales of the carp, the claws of the eagle and the body of the snake. Learned Chinese books also name whiskers at the mouth and a luminous pearl beneath the chin.
The magnifying glass reveals how finely the design is struck here.
PearlThe pearl with 龍, lóng, dragon
HeadThe head of the dragon
ScalesScales like those of a carp
Enlarged from the pictures in our gallery.
The legend of the Dragon Gate
The carp, which becomes a dragon.
A legend tells of the Yellow River: a carp that swims upstream through the Dragon Gate becomes a dragon.
In China the image stood for passing the civil service examination. On a Yuan dynasty inkstone in the Metropolitan Museum, the grinding surface and the ink well lie between carp and dragon; their diligent use might well decide success.
The pearl
The pearl, chased by the dragon.
In Chinese art, dragons often chase a flaming pearl or hold it fast. The Smithsonian interprets it as a symbol of wisdom.
More companions of the dragon
The phoenixThe phoenix often stands for the empress, the dragon for the emperor.
The tigerThe dragon stands for the east, the white tiger for the west.
The five elementsEarth, wood, metal, fire and water follow one another in a cycle.
The qilinWith the dragon, phoenix and tortoise, one of the four spiritual beings.
The emblem of the emperor
From the waves at the hem to the pearl.
An imperial robe of yellow silk from the Qianlong period, shown at the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2019, follows the usual arrangement from bottom to top: water lines form the waves of the ocean, from them rises Mount Kunlun, and at chest height the five-clawed dragon chases the flaming pearl.
The claws mattered: the five-clawed dragon, long, was distinguished from the four-clawed one, mang, which stood for lower ranks.
“Only the emperor and empress were allowed to wear bright yellow.”
The craft
What sets this piece apart.
- Antique finish
- The surface is toned dark, only the raised areas shine bright. This makes the relief stand out with real depth.
Our dragons to scale
Dainty in gold, mighty in silver.
From 1/200 ounce of gold to 5 ounces of silver, side by side to the scale of their dimensions. The piece on this page is marked.
Whatever is available links to its product.
1/200 ounceGold, 14 mmGold14 mm
1 ounceGold, 32.6 mmGold32.6 mm
1 ounceSilver, 40 mmSilver40 mm
2 ouncesGold, 36.6 mmGold36.6 mm
2 ouncesSilver, 50 mmSilver50 mm
3 ouncesSilver, 50 mmSilver50 mm
5 ouncesSilver, 55.5 mmSilver55.5 mm
At a glance
- Type
- Coin
- Metal
- Silver
- Design
- Dragon with pearl
- Weight
- 5 ounces fine silver
- Fineness
- 999.9/1,000
- Face value
- 5 Dollars
- Country of issue
- Tuvalu
- Diameter
- 55.5 mm
- Year
- 2018
- Quality
- Antique finish
- Mintage
- 500 pieces
- Manufacturer
- Perth Mint
- Packaging
- Box
A coiled dragon of jade, made in the Shang dynasty, in the 13th or 12th century BC.
Pendant in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
5 oz Silver "Chinese Mythical Creatures – Dragon" 2018 Antique Finish – Mintage of only 500
- Strictly limited: very low mintage of only 500 pieces worldwide
- Growth opportunities: high appreciation potential due to the strict limitation and the continuing strong demand among collectors
- Rarity: very rare collector's coin in elaborate Antique Finish and impressive high relief
- Design: a traditional Chinese dragon chasing the flaming pearl of wisdom bearing the character for "dragon"
- Manufacturer: minted by the world-renowned Perth Mint in Australia
- Country of origin: issued as legal tender of the island nation of Tuvalu
This extraordinary collector's coin from the "Chinese Mythical Creatures" series is one of the most sought-after dragon issues from the Perth Mint. With a mintage of only 500 pieces, this is an exceptional rarity that is rarely found on the market in this quality. Anyone looking for an impressive silver coin with genuine character and high collector's value will find a remarkable choice here.
A Dragon in High Relief – Fine Silver as a Work of Art
In Chinese culture, the dragon is regarded as a divine mythical creature symbolizing power, strength, wealth, and good fortune. On the obverse of this 5 oz coin, an artfully modeled dragon winds its way through clouds, smoke, and shadow as it chases the blazing pearl of wisdom – a symbol of enlightenment and spiritual power. The small character on the pearl incorporates the Chinese symbol for "dragon". The deep high relief brings every scale to life, and the individually applied Antique Finish ensures that each piece varies slightly, giving it a distinctive, antique-looking character.
On the reverse, the coin features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, framed by the inscriptions "QUEEN ELIZABETH II", "5oz 9999 SILVER", "2018 TUVALU" and "5 DOLLARS". The rimless design emphasizes the medallion-like, almost sculptural impression of this premium coin.
Technical Data at a Glance
- Material: silver 999.9/1,000 (fine silver)
- Fine weight: 5 oz, gross weight 155.5 g
- Diameter: 55.50 mm, rimless design
- Face value: 5 dollars, country of origin Tuvalu
- Mint: Perth Mint, Australia
- Year of issue: 2018
- Quality: Antique Finish, high relief
- Mintage: strictly limited to 500 pieces worldwide
Why This Collector's Coin Is So Highly Sought After
Classic bullion coins such as the Krugerrand or the Vienna Philharmonic are minted in large quantities. This is precisely what makes this issue so appealing: the very low mintage of just 500 pieces sets it clearly apart from common bullion coins. Antique Finish issues from the Perth Mint are highly regarded among collectors, as the combination of high relief, elaborate finishing, and limited mintage makes each piece a small one-of-a-kind item. These factors are the reason for the high appreciation potential that makes such a rare collector's coin so appealing to enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
Gold and silver have accompanied humanity for thousands of years – an artfully limited silver coin like this one combines the tangible value of precious metal with genuine collector's enjoyment.
The coin is supplied in its original box with a numbered certificate of authenticity and illustrated outer packaging – ensuring documented provenance and optimal protection for the piece. Whether as the highlight of an existing dragon or mythical creature collection or as an impressive standalone piece: this strictly limited edition is an enrichment for any discerning collection.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
