Lunar II Silver Coin: Year of the Rat 2008, 2 ounces

The Year of the Silver Ratmarks the beginning of a new series of collectible coins inspired by the Chinese lunar calendar.

It is divided into 12-year cycles, in which each year is symbolized by a different animal. According to Chinese mythology, it was these animals that were the first to answer Buddha’s call. The Year of the Mouse/Rat opens a new 12-year calendar cycle. The Chinese believe that being born in the year of a particular animal has a profound influence on a person’s personality and their entire life. People born under the sign of the Rat are characterized by honesty, perceptiveness, and intelligence. 

Coins from the Perth Mint’s Lunar Collection are an attractive option for collectors. They are characterized by precise craftsmanship and attention to detail. The reverse of the coin depicts two mice foraging in a field of grain. Next to them is the Chinese symbol for the Year of the Mouse, along with the year of minting—2008—which also marks the beginning of a new cycle in the Chinese calendar. On the obverse of the coin is the traditional Perth Mint image of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, along with the face value of 2 AUD.