0.5g oz Gold Lunar III Horse 2026 (Mintage: 10,000 | Proof)
- Pure Fine Gold: 999.9/1000 fineness
- Perth Mint: renowned mint
- Gift Gold: a real investment
- Pure Fine GoldInvestment gold in 24 carat, its value follows the gold price
- Perth MintLegal tender of Australia, face value 2 dollars
- Gift GoldGive a real asset for a christening or wedding
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Lunar III, Year of the Horse 2026
The horse rears,behind it mountains and grassland.
Image of the animal side: a rearing horse against mountains and grassland, at the top left the character 馬 and HORSE 2026, on the right a P
The animal of the year
A design by Ing Ing Jong
The line above follows the description of The Perth Mint.
The year’s silver coin bears a different image, also by Ing Ing Jong: a mare with her foal at a gallop.
The Perth Mint presents the horse under the heading “Symbol of strength”.
The character 馬
At the top left is the Chinese character for horse, below it HORSE 2026, on the right the P of The Perth Mint.
The Year of the Horse began on 17 February 2026.
Head and mane
The character 馬
Name and year
The series
One animal a year since 1996
In 1996 The Perth Mint became the first mint to release an Australian lunar programme, as it states. Each series follows the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: Lunar I from 1996 to 2007, Lunar II from 2008 to 2019, Lunar III from 2020 to 2031.
Each year one animal is added, and the snake, the horse and the goat each have separate designs for gold and silver. The snake is the sixth animal of Lunar III, the horse the seventh, the goat the eighth.
Since the snake of 2025, the effigy side has shown King Charles III, portrayed by Dan Thorne.
Snake2025
Horse2026
Goat2027
The mint
The P of Perth
The Perth Mint was founded in a gold rush. In 1892 a find near Coolgardie set off Australia’s second great gold rush of the 19th century. Premier Sir John Forrest did not want the gold to leave Western Australia for processing and secured a branch of the Royal Mint in Perth.
On 20 June 1899 the first gold was processed and struck there, and The Perth Mint has operated continuously on the same site in East Perth ever since. The sovereigns from Perth carried a small P above the date.
The designs of the snake, the horse and the goat also bear a P, as The Perth Mint’s mintmark. Today it is owned by the State of Western Australia.
The finish
Proof in gold
On the proof coin, the frosted design stands on a mirror-polished field, as The Perth Mint describes it.
It bears the design of the year’s gold coin.
At 0.5 gram it is the smallest coin in the line. On this coin, weight and fineness appear on the animal side: 0.5g 9999 GOLD.
At a glance
- Issuer
- The Perth Mint
- Face value
- 2 Australian dollars
- Minimum weight
- 0.500 g
- Fine weight
- 0.5 gram fine gold
- Fineness
- 99.99%
- Maximum diameter
- 11.60 mm
- Year
- 2026
- Maximum mintage per The Perth Mint
- 10,000 coins
All details according to The Perth Mint, the face value as it appears on the coin.
Struck in Perth since 1899.
Lunar III, Year of the Horse 2026.
0.5 g Gold Coin Australia Lunar III – Year of the Horse 2026 (Proof)
- Minting quality: highest quality level Proof (PP) directly from the Perth Mint
- Limited: strictly limited worldwide to a mintage of only 10,000 pieces
- Growth opportunities: attractive appreciation potential thanks to the very low mintage
- Rarity: sought-after rarity and exclusive collector's coin from the Lunar Series III
- Investment goal: handy bullion coin for inflation hedge and lasting value preservation – compact crisis protection for gradual wealth building
- Design: powerfully rearing horse with flowing mane, the character 馬 and the inscription "HORSE 2026"
- Material / fineness: 0.5 g fine gold with a fineness of 999.9/1000 (24 carat)
- Manufacturer: minted by the renowned Perth Mint
- Country of origin: Australia, face value 2 AUD (legal tender)
With the 0.5 g Gold Lunar III "Year of the Horse", the renowned Perth Mint is releasing for the first time a button-sized miniature edition of the popular Lunar Series III – barely larger than a fingertip, yet made of pure fine gold. The obverse features a powerfully rearing, majestic horse with a flowing mane and tail, standing on rocky ground amid grasses and mountain ranges. The dynamic, energy-charged pose with bent forelegs perfectly captures strength and a spirit of freedom. To the left is the Chinese character 馬 (Ma) and the inscription "HORSE 2026", to the right the weight indication "0.5g 9999 GOLD" and the small "P" mint mark of the Perth Mint. The reverse bears the portrait of King Charles III (effigy by Dan Thorne), the country name Australia, and the face value of 2 dollars.
The horse is the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac. According to the legend of the Great Race, the freedom-loving horse galloped resolutely toward the finish line, only to be outwitted by the cunning snake – and despite this setback, secured the honorable seventh place. According to tradition, those born in the Year of the Horse are considered independent, charismatic, and adventurous. This cultural symbolism gives the Lunar Horse its own personal touch – but the real substance and reason to buy is the fine gold it contains.
Because at its core, what you are acquiring here is full-fledged physical gold: 0.5 grams of fine gold with a fineness of 999.9/1000 – pure, 24-carat precious metal. The value of this small gram gold coin is primarily based on its precious metal content and moves in line with the gold price. Gold is the world's oldest currency, a store of value proven over more than 6,000 years, one that has never held a value of zero, remains tradable worldwide at any time, and protects you against loss of purchasing power. Profits from the sale of physical gold are also generally tax-free, provided the minimum holding period of one year is observed.
What makes this edition particularly appealing is its limitation to only 10,000 pieces worldwide. Such a very low mintage makes this coin a true rarity with noticeable appreciation potential and makes it an ideal, affordable entry point into physical gold investment alongside larger gold coins. For those who don't want to purchase a full ounce or troy ounce right away, such small quantities allow you to build up substance step by step. Small amounts of gold add up over the years to a considerable fortune. The coin is delivered in top Proof condition, protected in a decorative coincard that safely holds this delicate fine gold miniature.
Give the gift of real gold investment
Whether for a birthday, a wedding, a christening, or Christmas: with the 0.5 g Lunar Horse, you are not giving a fleeting present, but a lasting asset made of fine gold. Especially for investors who wish to pass on value across generations, minted gold is a proven building block for long-term protection against inflation and currency risks. It is not without reason that central banks worldwide hold vast gold reserves – a clear signal of confidence in the precious metal.
Despite the cultural design and the personal occasion, what you are acquiring here is not a mere souvenir, but recognized investment gold – minted fine gold whose value is based on the gold price.
The key facts at a glance
- Precious metal: gold, fineness 999.9/1000 (24 carat)
- Fine weight: 0.5 g (approx. 0.016 oz fine gold)
- Year of minting: 2026 – Year of the Horse
- Series: Australian Lunar Series III
- Diameter: 11.60 mm
- Face value: 2 AUD
- Mintage: strictly limited to 10,000 pieces
- Condition: Proof (PP)
- Manufacturer: Perth Mint, Australia
- Packaging: coincard, brand new
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
