1 oz Lunar II Mouse | Silver | 2008

1 oz Lunar II Mouse - inspired by the Chinese zodiac

The Australian Lunar coin series celebrates Chinese astrology and the Chinese zodiac. The 12-year series features releases marking the Year of the Mouse (2008), Year of the Ox (2009), Year of the Tiger (2010), Year of the Rabbit (2011), Year of the Dragon (2012), Year of the Snake (2013), Year of the Horse (2014), Year of the Goat (2015), Year of the Monkey (2016), Year of the Rooster (2017), Year of the Dog (2018) and Year of the Pig (2019). Apart from the internationally renowned Australian Lunar Gold PROOF Coin Series II, which was minted with gold, the Perth Mint also released Lunar Silver Coins in various denominations: ½ oz, 10 oz, 1 kg, 1 ounce and 5 ounces. In 2008, The Perth Mint’s internationally renowned Australian Lunar Silver PROOF Coin Series II celebrates the Year of the Mouse, the first animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. These superb releases are perfect for people born in the Year of the Mouse – 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 und 2008 – who are regarded as quick-witted, insightful, successful, ambitious, sometimes greedy, entrepreneurial, hard working, love to spend money and accumulate possessions.

The front of the Lunar Mouse coin can be considered as classic for most of the Australian silver coins, with the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value and the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II", "AUSTRALIA", the year "2008"and" 999 SILVER ". The reverse of each coin depicts two mice on a bed of straw with pumpkins in the background. The Chinese character for ‘mouse’ and the inscription ‘Year of the Mouse’ also appear in the design with The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark.

The Lunar Mouse coin appeals to to investors and collectors because of its very limited supply, the variety of denominations and their undeniable beauty. The coin was issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965 and has a fine silver content of 99.90%.