The Year 2000 Dragon is the key coin in the Lunar Series, for a number of reasons. One, the dragon is considered China's icon. How often have you read an article or heard a news commentator refer to China as "the dragon"? Referring to China as "The Dragon" is as common as calling the United States "Uncle Sam."

Perhaps just as important is that Chinese people revere the dragon, even Chinese people born in other lunar calendar years. Dragons grace Chinese clothing, collectibles of all types, and even artifacts.

Additionally, the year 2000 was the first year of the "2000 series" of coins that will be minted for one thousand years. (Some people mistakenly say that the year 2000 coins are the first of the 21st century, but actually year 2000 coins are the last coins of the 20th century.) Regardless, being dated 2000 makes the Dragons unique coins.

Gold Dragons sell out

The Year 2000 one-ounce Gold Dragons were the first coins in the Lunar Series to reach the production cap of 30,000, which means that they are available only in the secondary market. Gold Dragons carry big premiums over the other one-ounce Lunar Series gold coins. One-ounce Gold Dragons may always carry bigger premiums than the other coins in the Lunar Series.

Warning!

Collectors buying Gold Dragons should ask for a guarantee that the coins they received have never been circulated and remain in pristine condition. Because each Lunar Series coin shipped from The Perth Mint is encapsulated, most coins are as they came from The Perth Mint. However, many Lunar Series coins have been used as jewelry and should not be sold as collector coins.

People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. Dragons are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust.

In addition to the year 2000, other Dragon years are 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, and 1904.