2008 1 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin (Series I)

The first coin to launch in the Lunar Series I program from the Perth Mint of Australia was the Silver Lunar Rat coin In 2008, there was a dual release of Year of the Rat coins to mark the end of the Lunar Series I program and the start of the Lunar Series II collection. The first animal in the 12-year cycle of the Zodiac, the rat has twice launched a lunar collection from Perth Mint. These specimens available here represent the second Year of the Rat coin in the Lunar Series I program. The 2008 1 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin is available to you for purchase online from JM Bullion.

Coin Highlights:

• Coins arrive inside of protective plastic capsules!
• 1st Silver Year of the Rat design in the Lunar Series 1 collection!
• Limited mintage of only 59,623 coins!
• Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Issued a face value of $1 (AUD) by Australia.
• On the obverse is Queen Elizabeth II.
• The reverse features a pair of rats in straw near some pumpkins.

The Perth Mint is responsible for introducing what is arguably the most popular collection of Lunar Series coin designs. The Lunar Series I collection ran from 1996 to 2007 and debuted with the Year of the Rat design, following exactly the 12-year cycle of the Lunar Calendar that begins with the Year of the Rat and ends with the Year of the Pig. Perth Mint’s second collection of lunar designs, Lunar Series II, launched with a 2008 Australian Silver Lunar Rat coin and a second Year of the Rat design in 2008 to conclude the Lunar Series I program as the second collection debuted.

On the obverse side of all 2008 Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coins is a right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty is featured here in the fourth-generation design from Royal Mint of England coins. Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley in 1998, it is the fifth image of the Queen to feature on Australian coinage and depicts her wearing a subtler crown than previous designs.

The reverse of the 2008 1 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coins includes the image of two rats in a field of straw with two pumpkins visible behind them. The rat is first in the 12-year cycle of the Zodiac because it was the first to arrive at a meeting at the Heavenly Gates called by the Jade Emperor. The rat arrived first by the good graces of the Ox, as it hitched a ride in its ear after being unable to cross a fast-moving river on its own. As the duo approached the Heavenly Gates, the rat jumped from the Ox to land at the Emperor’s feet first.

Each 2008 1 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin will arrive in a protective plastic capsule to preserve the condition of your silver coin. These coins are a part of the Lunar Series I and are the second unique image of a rat to be displayed.

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