Thanks for that tasty comment but Perth closed down lunar series one early because the coins were generally not popular. After nine years they dumped it, that's how popular the coins were. Not only did Perth close down the Series 1 lunar programme but they destroyed the dies as well! :lol:
I think S1 lunars were not popular in Aus during the time. They were mostly for the overseas market. That seems to explain why they have more stock in the US. But then again the kooks didn't get fully minted too..
So why did they immediately start a second series then? Series 1 gold ran for a full 12 years, and the silver coins were only introduced several years after the gold coins. The silver series was wrapped up early by releasing the final designs in the same year so that Series 2 could start in sync.
In addition to syncing the years they wanted a completely new design on a coin that had a larger diameter and was thinner to try to avoid counterfeiting. Silver coins specs old and new. First Series 1-oz coins are 32.10 mm in diameter and 2.80 mm thick Second Series 1-oz coins are 45.6 mm in diameter and 2.60 mm thick
I've been told that the thinner planchet was to give a larger surface area for the design to stand out on - counterfeiting has never been raised as a reason for the change. Otherwise Kooks would have had the same treatment, right? But the "nine years and dumped it" is just incorrect.
You should check the counterfeiting issue then with your contacts at Perth. Thinner coin harder to counterfeit.
