The Australian twentieth-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1/20 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.
Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used. Some of these are dedicated to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, in which every year is dedicated to one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
This coin is part of the first release in the Lunar Series issued by the Perth Mint, and marks the Chinese 1996 Year of the Mouse, also known as the Year of the Rat (19 February 1996 - 6 February 1997).
The mint says about it:
According to Chinese mythology, the order of the animals in the ancient zodiac calendar was decided with a great race across a river, in which the mouse came first. Races aren’t the only thing mice win. Those born in the Year of the Mouse are said to possess enterprising spirits and a willingness to work hard to achieve their goals. They are smart, adaptable and curious by nature. No wonder they lead the zodiac pack.
Years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. |
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