The Australian one-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.
The Lunar Series series was introduced in 1996 by the Perth Mint (the Royal Australian Mint started a parallel series later) and is dedicated to the Chinese Lunar Calendar and the Chinese Zodiac. Known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, it features twelve animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Boasting a history of more than 2,000 years, it plays an essential role in Chinese culture. The animals zodiac in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China, but also believed to influence people’s personalities, career, compatibility, marriage, and fortune.
Issued by the Royal Australian Mint and exclusively distributed by PAMP, this one-ounce gold investment coin with a face value of $100 is part of an investment series which commemorates 2020 as the Year of the Rat (25 January 2020 - 11 February 2021) in Chinese culture. Rich in traditional symbolism, the coin’s reverse-side design depicts two rats upon branches of an oak, a tree associated with the Year of the Rat.
The series was announced on 26 November 2019. The coins were issued in Brilliant Uncirculated grade, packaged in individual capsules. |
Obverse | |
The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA · 100 DOLLARS ·.
The effigy, legend and face value are in a small circle, surrounded by a decorative border.
Around the rim outside that circle, the twelve animals of the Lunar Calendar, in pairs facing each other; clockwise: monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse and goat. Between each animal, a small Moon in a different phase. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin shows at its centre two rats on a branch of an oak tree, with leaves and an acorn above.
Above the rats, the Chinese character for "rat" 鼠 (pronounced shŭ under the Pinyin system). Around above, the date of issue 2020.
Around below, the precious metal content: 1 oz .9999 Au (one ounce of 99.99% gold; Au is abbreviated from the Latin "Aurum" and is used internationally on gold bullion coinage).
The designer's initials AWB (for Adam William Ball) are below right, above the oak branch. |
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