The coin celebrates the Year of the Dog, the eleventh animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. Under the influence of this sign, people born in the Year of the Dog - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018 are regarded as loyal, amiable, kind and friendly.
Each coin’s reverse a German Shepherd dog and pup lying in grass with Chinese peony flowers in the background. The Chinese character for “Dog” and the inscription “Year of the Dog” also appear in the design with the “Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark. The Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the year of mintage, the denomination and the weight and fineness of the coin appear on its obverse surface. Each coin is presented in a protective acrylic case. The mintage of these legal tender, 9999 fine coins will be capped at 300,000 coins.