Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I have been buying bullion, but I am tempted to collect the lunar series. Anyone else collect them or have the urge to collect them?

I see the Dragon 1oz going in the 900's and I just can't pull the trigger when I know I can get 2 krugs for around 1250.

It is interesting that the 1oz gold lunars are limted to 30,000. That is 10 times more rare than the buffalo proof will be.

Also debating just getting the 1/20 ths as a set for less than a grand to quench my desire to buy them and spend alot less.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I have the set (1oz) -dragan and horse. Bought them last year for between 500-550 ea. A little more expensive than regular bullion but they are so unitque and come from one of the finest mints in the world.
A piece of craftsmanship for just a more $$ for me was worth it.

I refused to pay for the extra premimum for the horse and dragon at what they are. I see the snake has been climbing and I suspect the dog will probably sell out since so many westerners love dogs. Some easterners love dogs too but not the same way (yummmm)

:D

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I know what you mean. I love the Australian Lunar coins in Silver and Gold. If the price of Gold gets a big smack down. I am getting the gold dragon, probably the 2 oz one since they don't have a mark up on those like the 1 oz. I have been eyeing it on www.scpm.com they sell the 2 oz, 10 oz and 1 Kilo Gold.

I bought Silver bars from them and had no problems.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

A couple of thoughts -

First, I have a few of the Dragons in gold.......altho it sounds high, you should know there were only 30,000 of them made by the Perth Mint - they have sold out and the coin goes for $1200-1300 most places. (look on the (Perth Mint site and see!) Its pretty close to the same on eBay.

Oddly, APMEX has about 6 at about $950 - yes, its a lot more than bullion, but you are buying a coin that will go up in value, especially considering the Perth Mint is totally out of them and its already a collectable. Plus, if you believe gold will go up to $850-1000 then you know it will go up too!

I also have a few sets of the entire lunar run in silver - they are lovely, unfortunately you JUST missed a great special on them at Lone Star Silver, so my next best suggestion is APMEX.

I know a lot of people in GIM are sticklers about not paying anything over premium but if you are going to go even slightly into numismatics, then you are going to pay a premium for it, and there is nothing you can do.

Happy collecting!

Ho

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Thanks for the input. It is interesting to see the 2oz coin is just $300 over the 1oz. I know mintages were unlimited over 1oz but does anyone know how many were produced of the large sizes for that year?

I did go ahead and get 11 of the 1/20th coins. I figure I don't have anything smaller than an ounce (except a couple $1 US coins) so why not? Plus I can spend less than $600 and get them all. They have a nice case on the Perth Mint site but the submit on the order won't work, I get an error message at the final confirmation.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

It seems like a reasonable assumption that any of the Perth Mint lunars (gold or silver) which you might buy are also being bought by a ton of Chinamen. Some of those guys are making serious money, and they're certainly not stupid: if YOU were in China today wouldn't you move as much money as possible to safety offshore? (Perth Mint will store your PM's for you -- unless you choose to send them discreetly to Uncle Wang in Vancouver or Elder Brother Ho in Paris, or Third-Cousin Wei who runs the Dragon Palace in Boston, or ...)

With plenty of Chinamen potentially bidding for Perth Mint Lunars, now and in the future, I'd think there would be pretty good support for a nice numismatic premium. Also a completed 12-year set should be worth more than its component parts, you'd think.

I can see the bullion guys' point of view, and, yes, it grinds me to pay one penny extra. But maybe sometimes ya just gotta go for some gusto (in a "modified, limited hangout" kind of way.)

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Good point - except Brother Ho runs the California Palace.......:rofl:

I don't know if the Chinese are buying them or not - after all - there are lots of different gold and silver coins out there and the Chinese have their own. What I DO know is that the golden Dragon has a high premium cause it came out first, is the most popular, and is now the hardest to get.

I wish I could afford all 12 of the golden coins but Brother Ho just ain't that rich! :bawling:

On the other hand - I mentioned Lone Star Silvers sale on the silver lunar sets cause, I did a little research and discovered the earlier coins of that series are already getting a slightly higher premium in silver too.......and once we get down to the last 2 coins (they are two coins behind the gold series, so only 8 silver coins out now) at THAT point people will clamor to get the earlier ones to make sets, and discover the first 3-4 are harder to get! Thats why I picked up a few sets from Jennifer at Lone Star but unfortunately she has sold out now.

But above and beyond it all - the silver coins are/were only a couple of dollars more than the Sivler Eagles - and it gives you something else to look at........and far more importantly, at least to me and those I have bought sets for - they are stunning coins - I haven't seen a picture yet that does tham justice. Even if silver goes to the moon - or Mars - or Zeta Recitula - I suspect those who have sets will part with them long after they have parted with most of their silver coins - and at a much higher price at that!

Cheers!

Ho

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Check out this case for the 1oz gold lunars. Awesome!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230015468708

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

My Strategy - if one can call it that - is that, unless TSHTF (and there is a strong possibility that it will or it won't - its another Tao thing) I will hold some gold till it goes to the moon and part way back, or till I die........SO - I have a portion in bullion for selling if I need, or the prices warrant.......a portion in numismatics, in case the world just happens to roll along and the price of rare coins goes up (as it did in the 1980s).....and a small part in gold I love to look at, and don't intend to sell unless I absolutely must or that moon thing happens.

My Lunar Dragons fall into that last group. I am a Chinese Dragon - I wear Chinese hapi coats and almost all have dragons - I have lots of dragons in various forms around the house - people give me gifts with dragons, or of dragons, all the time........so you see the connection. I wish I could afford ALL the gold lunar set but if I did it would eat into the other two groups, but maybe one day. Anyway - my point is - a strategy is an good and important thing to have in these ugly times - but one should never forget to have fun and enjoy along the way, which is what you and I are doing......hence the golden Dragons and the lunar set in silver - all a bit above the price of bullion.

Nice picture - you take great ones - I have been seeing them in various threads you've posted (don't laugh, the background is what makes me go - oh yeah, that guy!) I don't take pic myself - tho I could - and yes, the reverse mirrored proof finish plays havoc with the light of a flash!

SO - got one of the dragon in gold or silver???

Here is the best I have seen..............>>

Attachment 17988

Attachment 17989

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I love the lunars. They're my favorite bullion coin, edging out the kangaroos (because I'm only really crazy about the 2006 kangaroo). Unfortunately, my budget doesn't allow for the 1 oz. coins. I could probably buy a couple (and still might break down and do it), but when the time came to sell the gold, I'd be sitting in a corner, clutching my lunars and muttering, "My Precious...my Precious!" I do have the set and about half of a second set in 1/10s and a couple 1/20s. I consider one set of them to be a keeper and don't intend to sell it. I also have a couple of sets in silver and intend one of the silver sets to be a keeper, too.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I think I figured the lighting out---

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

How funny and true

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Sssssssh.............I do that NOW! :rofl:


TOM D - Excellent pictures - yes, you have the best one I have seen so far........wanna try the gold dragon?? :D

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

AWSOME PICTURES TOM D, WHAT BRAND CAMERA PLEASE??

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I considered it, but want to wait until the transportation problems are resolved.

:banana:

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Yes, those coins are on my wish list. I fantasize about buying all 12 of them and putting them in the display case. However, I'd be paranoid and want to hide the display case with all my "precious" coins. The case would make them bulky and hard to hide. I'd become more paranoid about someone stealing my gold lunars. I'd invest in a home security system and nail the door shut etc. I could go on, but it would sound pathetic.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Sounds pretty pathetic now! :rofl:

ONLY KIDDING! I totally understand - I wouldn't worry about the silver set - and fully intend to put them in the display case - but I would be real tense about doing that with the gold set........if I ever get all the gold coins, I MIGHT get the display case and keep it so I had it to show if the occassion came up - but then I would take them back out and hide them back in my secret place under the stump in the backyard!


I didn't just say that did I??? :eek:

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Oh, great. It was bad enough when it was the coins. Now I'm getting mesmerized by the pictures.

Very, very nice, btw!

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

The camera is a Minolta A1. It is just 5 MP, not much by today's standards but top when I bought it a few years ago. It does have full controls like a good 35 mm. What really sets it apart from most cameras when making shots like the coin images is a macro capable lens. That means the lens can focus with a couple of inches of the object. The coin pictures were made in 7X telephoto macro at about 1-1/2 feet.

Ironically, the dragon just may be the last pictures that camera ever shoots. It quit functioning when I tried some more of some other coins. I carry a camera with me all the time, I get some really good shots that I just stumble across. I think 3 years of heating and cooling in my console have separated something.

That's OK I guess, I'm going to buy the same camera but 3 generations later and now 10 MP but now by Sony since it took over Minoltas camera operation.

My film cameras are all Canons, I still have a F1 and an AE1.

Minolta A1 below---

Lunar Gold- Tempting?-CHECK IT OUT
 

Comes down to 646.1 and as we speak that is a 20.15 premium on the spot price of gold.

Check this out: http://www.onlygold.com/Featured_Lunar_Series_Set.asp

Still a lot of FRN.....but for those interested...priceless

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

More info here: http://www.lunarcollectorcoins.com/index.htm

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Is the gold coin really a beagle? It looks more like a lab to me and I've owned both. Every reference I have found says beagle so I guess it is what they say it is. Anybody else think it looks like a lab or am I crazy?:confused:

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

Just got in the set of the 1/20th coins. Really nice in their little plastic cases with lots of detail for such a small coin. Comparable to the $1 US gold coins in size. Waiting on the display case I ordered from the perth mint to put them in.

Wish I had the one ouncers but I think I am gonna stick with the kangaroos since my local dealer gives me a good deal.

Re: Lunar Gold- Tempting?
 

I've got some 1/10oz lunars. Nice coins. Much nicer quality that the 1/10oz Maples I usually get. Had to get them off ebay though since my local dealer never has any.