The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion and commemorative 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 silver Lunar Series series was introduced in 1999 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.
This coin is part of the Lunar Series by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) and is dedicated to the Lunar "Year of the Pig", celebrating those born under the twelfth sign of the Chinese horoscope. It is the first bullion coins in the series (there is also proof with a different design).
People born in the year of the pig are considered to be very honest and serious. Pigs are the perfectionists of the Chinese zodiac and are very attentive to their environment. |
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The reverse of the coin shows, within a decorative border, a happy sow with two piglets, in an idyllic farm setting - typically Australian, as denoted by the windmill in the background.
In the grass below, the Chinese character for pig: 豬.
Around the rim, above: 2019 LUNAR YEAR OF THE PIG; below, the face value ONE DOLLAR, followed by 1 oz .999 Ag (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver). |
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Search for Australia: Silver Ounce 2019 Year of the Pig, Bullion (RAM) on eBay 