A rectangular silver piece measuring 47.6 × 27.6 mm is the format in which the Perth Mint issues its Dragon, and in 2024, the Year of the Dragon in the Eastern calendar, the design had a special occasion.

The reverse shows an oriental dragon eyeing a flaming pearl, a symbol of wisdom, surrounded by water and clouds, omens of good luck. The design is by Wade Robinson, and the 2024 date sits beside the P125 mintmark for the Mint’s 125th anniversary.

The obverse bears Dan Thorne’s portrait of King Charles III. The metal is one troy ounce of 99.99% pure silver, and the mintage is limited to 250,000 pieces.

The Mint issued rectangular Dragons before: the 2023 coin, with the same limit of 250,000, sold out. The 2024 issue differs from its predecessors in the portrait of the new monarch and the Mint’s anniversary mark.

The unusual shape sets the coin apart from round issues, and a year-by-year run of rectangular Dragons is a collecting goal in its own right.

UNC grade: the coin never circulated, it shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre; only minor storage marks are acceptable.

Besides this coin, VPcoins offers other issues from the same era and region.