appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Chris Davis

GOLD Corp Australia will announce at Money World Asia details of the launch of Australia's first Chinese New Year Coin Collection.

  The decision by the Perth Mint to produce a series of coins over the next 12 years starting with the Year of the Rat and followed by the other symbols traditionally associated with Chinese New Year, was inspired by the rich diversity of Australia's cultural heritage and its growing ties with Asia, said Dominic Leung, managing director of Gold Corp Australia (Hong Kong).

 The significance of these coins was increased because it was the first time that an Australian coin would bear a Chinese character as part of its main inscription.

   Only 3,888 sets of the proof quality coins will be issued world-wide.

 Also producing a Year of the Rat Chinese New Year coin distributed to banks by Gold Corp Australia is the Cook Islands, which has taken a humorous approach to the festival.

   The proof quality coin issued by the commonwealth member has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth on one side and Disney's Mickey Mouse riding a windsurfer on the reverse.

 For security reasons, the one kilo Australian Gold Nugget - the largest coin in the world - will not be on show at Money World Asia.

  It is recognised as being the most affordable means of purchasing gold bullion. 'It's a shame that we will not have any at Money World.'   'To appreciate it you have to hold it in your hand. It really is worth it's weight in gold,' Mr Leung said.

 The nugget, which measures 7.5 centimetres across the centre and carries the distinctive emblem of Australia's red kangaroo, is one of a set of three bullion coins that are minted annually and is valued at around $100,000.

   The other bullion coins weigh 10 oz and 2 oz.

 The bullion coins are considered a good investment because the premium on the coin is very low.

  'Maybe that is why no other country produces such a large coin,' Mr Leung said.

 'Although bullion coins are legal tender, a buyer is investing in precious metals themselves which are subject to fluctuations in the market,'   Mr Leung said.

 Generally, bullion is a safe investment particularly in times of political or economic unrest.

   Gold peaked in the early 1980s when high oil prices and world-wide inflation was causing uncertainty.

   In 1984, more than 400,000 ounces of coin was sold in Hong Kong when the Hong Kong dollar was unstable.

   There was also an increase in the purchase of bullion in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square crack-down.

 Bullion can play an important part in a portfolio where its edition can minimise risk and play a stabilising roll.

   Mr Leung subscribes to the theory held by some people working in the financial world - that an investor has five per cent of his portfolio in gold and prays that it does not go up.

   When economies are doing well, gold stays depressed; when markets are not functioning so well gold performs.



Cooke Islands calls on Mickey Mouse for special coin