
1 Ounce Gold Lunar III Horse 2026 (Mintage: 188 | Proof)

- Colour Finish: horse in deep blue
- Perth Mint: renowned mint
- Elegant Case: with black velvet
- Colour FinishThe rearing horse shimmers blue against a golden background
- Perth MintStruck by Australia's most renowned mint
- Elegant CaseDark red case with gold embossing and velvet bed
Lunar III, Year of the Horse 2026
The horse rears,behind it mountains and grassland.


Image of the animal side: a coloured 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
A special edition
Alongside the bullion coins, The Perth Mint issues special editions, for example with colour, gilding or an antiqued finish.
On this edition the design is rendered in colour.

At a glance
- Issuer
- The Perth Mint
- Face value
- 100 Australian dollars
- Minimum weight
- 31.107 g
- Fine weight
- 1 ounce fine gold
- Fineness
- 99.99%
- Maximum diameter
- 32.60 mm
- Year
- 2026
- Maximum mintage per The Perth Mint
- 188 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.
1 oz Gold Lunar III Horse 2026 – Coloured Proof with Only 188 Pieces Worldwide
- Strictly limited: Only 188 pieces of this extraordinary collector's coin exist worldwide
- Growth potential: Enormous appreciation potential due to the extremely low mintage and high demand among collectors
- Exclusive rarity: One of the rarest gold coins in the entire Lunar Series III
- Minting quality: Highest possible minting quality "Proof" (PP) for flawless attention to detail
- Design: Breathtaking, coloured horse in deep blue – powerfully rearing up against a golden background with the Chinese character 馬
- Colouring: Elaborate colour finishing gives the horse design a unique, three-dimensional effect
- Material & fineness: 31.10 g of purest gold at a fineness of 999/1,000 – highest purity for maximum material value
- Investment purpose: Bullion coin with inflation hedge and lasting value preservation, also suitable as crisis protection in smaller denominations
- Manufacturer: Minted by the world-famous Perth Mint – Australia's most renowned mint
- Country of origin: Australia, with an official face value of 100 AUD
There are coins you buy. And there are coins you covet. The 1 oz Gold Lunar III Horse 2026 in the coloured Proof finish undoubtedly belongs to the second category. With a mintage of only 188 pieces worldwide, it is one of the rarest coins ever issued by the Perth Mint as part of the legendary Lunar Series III. Whoever holds this coin in their hands possesses a numismatic masterpiece – and a piece of contemporary history.
A Design That Takes Your Breath Away
The obverse of this rarity features a majestically rearing horse, rendered in an elaborate colouring of deep, shimmering blue. The flowing mane, the tensed muscles, the dynamic pose – every detail has been immortalised in gold with the utmost precision. In the background, stylised rock formations rise up, while delicate grass lines the lower edge of the design. The Chinese character 馬 (horse) along with the inscriptions "HORSE" and "2026" complete the design. The small "P" on the right edge serves as the mint mark of the Perth Mint.
The reverse bears the official portrait of King Charles III in profile, surrounded by the inscriptions "CHARLES III", "AUSTRALIA", the face value "100 DOLLARS" and the fineness designation "1oz 9999 Au". A classic, dignified design that underscores the royal character of this coin.
Why This Coin Is So Special
The Perth Mint's Lunar Series III enjoys an almost legendary reputation among collectors worldwide. Each year, a new design is dedicated to one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The horse – a symbol of energy, freedom and success – is one of the most popular designs of all. But what sets this issue apart from all others is the combination of three factors:
- The strictly limited mintage of just 188 pieces worldwide
- The elaborate colouring, which gives the design an almost sculptural depth
- The flawless Proof (PP) minting quality, in which mirrored surfaces and frosted reliefs create a fascinating contrast
Gold is the oldest currency in human history. It has outlasted every crisis, every war and every bout of inflation. A coin like this combines this timeless value with the art of numismatics – and thereby becomes something far greater than mere precious metal.
Gold: The Ultimate Store of Value for Millennia
For over 6,000 years, people have trusted in gold. Even in ancient Egypt it served as a unit of measure in trade, and kings and emperors wore it as a symbol of their power. And while countless paper currencies have come and gone, gold has remained constant. It possesses an intrinsic value that does not depend on governments or central banks. It is VAT-exempt, tradeable worldwide and – with a holding period of at least one year – profits from its sale can generally be realised tax-free.
Especially in times when confidence in fiat money is waning and central banks themselves are buying up gold on a massive scale, the true strength of this precious metal becomes apparent. Gold protects against loss of purchasing power, serves as a hedge against currency risks and can preserve wealth across generations as a long-term retirement provision.
Presented in a Luxurious Case
The coin is delivered in a high-quality, dark red case with gold embossing reading "Australian Lunar Series III". The interior is lined with black velvet, in which the coloured gold coin rests perfectly embedded. The outer packaging features an artistic, golden depiction of the horse design on a red background – a complete package that reflects the exclusive character of this collector's coin in every respect.
Who Is This Coin For?
Quite simply: this coin is aimed at discerning collectors and connoisseurs who seek the extraordinary. With only 188 pieces worldwide, it is an absolute rarity that should be missing from no ambitious Lunar collection. The appreciation potential is considerable given the very low mintage and the enormous popularity of the Lunar series. Comparable issues from earlier years of issue with similarly low mintages have in the past achieved significant collector premiums.
Whether as the centrepiece of an existing collection, as a valuable gift or as a conscious decision in favour of one of the safest stores of value in human history – this 1 oz Gold Lunar III Horse 2026 in coloured Proof is a coin you don't simply buy. You secure it. While it is still possible.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.

















