The Perth Mint has announced its 2027 Year of the Goat coins, the eighth release in the Australian Lunar Series III. Gold, silver, and platinum versions are available in multiple sizes, with bullion editions already at dealers on pre-order and proof editions carrying strict mintage limits. The series began with the Year of the Mouse in 2020 and will run through 2031 (Year of the Pig), giving collectors a twelve-year window to build a complete set.
The Design: Three Goats Bring Bliss
The reverse of the 2027 coins depicts three goats — a mature goat, a young goat, and a kid — grazing beneath a plum blossom tree. The image illustrates the Chinese proverb “three goats bring bliss” (三羊开泰, san yang kai tai), a traditional New Year greeting that signals the end of winter and the arrival of spring, renewal, and prosperous beginnings.
The proverb hinges on wordplay. In Chinese, the character for goat (羊, yang) is a homophone for the character meaning “sun” or “positive” (阳, yang), so 三羊开泰 is a pun on the I Ching phrase 三阳开泰 — “three suns bring prosperity.” The three-goat motif has appeared in Chinese New Year art and greetings for centuries.
The design also includes the Chinese character for Goat, the inscription “GOAT 2027,” and The Perth Mint’s “P” mintmark. A micro-engraved letter within the design serves as a security feature visible only under magnification.
The obverse features a portrait of King Charles III, along with the coin’s weight, purity, and legal tender denomination.
Available Sizes and Specifications
The 2027 Year of the Goat is available across gold, silver, and platinum in both bullion and proof formats.
Gold bullion coins are struck from .9999 fine gold in sizes from 1/4 oz to 10 oz (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, and 10 oz). All carry Australian legal tender status.
Silver bullion coins are struck from .9999 fine silver in 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, and 1 kilo sizes. The 1 oz silver bullion edition has a mintage limit of 300,000, consistent with previous Lunar Series III releases and far lower than the American Silver Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf. That limited run is part of why Lunar coins carry secondary-market premiums once their production year ends.
Platinum is available in a 1 oz bullion version, struck from .9995 fine platinum.
Proof editions carry significantly tighter mintage limits:
- 1 oz Gold Proof: 1,000
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof: 3,500
- 1/10 oz Gold Proof: 2,500
- 1 oz Silver Proof: 5,000
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof: 4,000
- Silver Proof Three-Coin Set: 1,000
- 1 oz Silver Trio: 1,500
2027 Is the Year of the Fire Goat
The Chinese zodiac operates on a 60-year cycle that combines twelve animals with five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). 2027 is a Fire Goat year — the same combination last seen in 1967. Lunar New Year 2027 falls in late January, and the Year of the Goat runs through early 2028.
In Chinese culture, the goat represents filial piety, creativity, and gentleness. The animal’s association with these virtues dates back at least 8,000 years to the Peiligang culture in what is now Henan province.
Why the Lunar Series Holds Its Premiums
The Lunar Series is one of the Perth Mint’s flagship programs and has been running in some form since 1996 (Series I: 1996-2007, Series II: 2008-2019, Series III: 2020-2031). Earlier series coins routinely trade at significant premiums over spot on the secondary market, particularly in the smaller silver sizes where original mintages were lower.
Several factors drive this. Each year’s design is unique and cannot be reordered once the production year ends. The .9999 purity on gold and silver exceeds the .999 standard used by some other sovereign mints. And the twelve-animal cycle means buyers who start with one animal tend to acquire the rest, sustaining demand across the full twelve-year run.
For bullion buyers, the practical question is whether the premium over spot on a new Lunar coin is justified relative to a generic round or a lower-premium sovereign coin like the Kangaroo or Maple Leaf. The answer depends on the holding period. Buyers who plan to sell within a year are paying for a premium they may not recoup. Buyers who plan to hold for five or more years have historically seen the Lunar premium expand rather than compress, particularly for silver coins in completed series.
Where It Fits in the Series III Timeline
The Year of the Goat is the eighth of twelve releases in Series III:
- 2020: Mouse
- 2021: Ox
- 2022: Tiger
- 2023: Rabbit
- 2024: Dragon
- 2025: Snake
- 2026: Horse
- 2027: Goat
- 2028: Monkey
- 2029: Rooster
- 2030: Dog
- 2031: Pig
The Dragon (2024) was the most popular release to date, consistent with the Dragon’s outsized demand across all three series. The Goat does not carry the same weight in Western markets, but it is traditionally popular in East Asian collecting circles, and the “three goats bring bliss” design gives it a stronger cultural hook than most non-Dragon animals in the cycle.
Availability and Pricing
Bullion editions are available on pre-order from Perth Mint authorized distributors, with delivery expected in the coming weeks. Australian dealers are listing the 1 oz silver bullion version around AUD $109, which reflects the typical Lunar Series premium over spot.
FBP tracks Perth Mint Lunar Series III bullion prices across dealers so buyers can compare premiums before purchasing. For a broader look at how the Lunar Series stacks up against other sovereign gold coins, our comparison pages break down current gold bullion premiums and silver bullion premiums across the market.
Related
- Perth Lunar Series III Collection — Compare bullion prices across dealers for the full series
- Sovereign Gold Coins From Around the World — How Perth Mint coins compare to other sovereign bullion
- What Is Premium Over Spot? — Why premiums matter for long-term returns
- Compare Gold Bullion Prices — Current dealer premiums on gold coins and bars
- Compare Silver Bullion Prices — Current dealer premiums on silver coins and bars
- Gold Melt Values — What your gold is worth in metal alone
- Silver Coin Melt Values — Current melt value calculator for silver coins
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial or investment advice. FindBullionPrices.com is a price comparison platform and does not sell bullion or currency notes.
