| Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Opal - Year of the Rabbit |
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The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints independently 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 Australian Opal series uses a technique pioneered by the Perth Mint in which the reverse design is done with opal inserts instead of being coloured.
This one-ounce silver coin with a face value of $1 was issued as part of the Perth Mint's Lunar Series III to mark the Chinese Year of the Rabbit (22 January 2023 - 9 February 2024). Its reverse has opal inserts, and - as usual with the opal coins - has a design that differs from the other Year of the Rabbit coins issued by the mint the same year.
The Mint says about it:
With its creative use of opal in the shape of a rabbit, this 1oz silver coin is a timeless keepsake for those celebrating the 2023 Chinese New Year and everyone born under the influence of the fourth animal of the ancient lunar calendar.
Australia supplies the overwhelming majority of the world’s opal, a colourful mineral-like material which we’ve put to outstanding artistic use in this exceptionally popular series. With previous Opal Lunar coins sold out, this rabbit addition should prove to be another keenly sought after collectable." |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage |
5,000
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown and the Victoria Coronation necklace worn for her Coronation. This is her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide and "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, in "uncouped" version - showing the Queen's shoulders and not terminating at the neck as the normal version.
On the left, in small letters on the Queen's shoulder, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA · 1 DOLLAR ·.
The effigy is smaller than usual, allowing for more space in the centre of the obverse which is patterned with rays radiating from the centre. |
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| Reverse | |
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The centre of the reverse incorporates an inner panel design of a rabbit, detailed in pure Australian opal, on black background.
Around above, the inscription YEAR OF THE RABBIT. Below, the Chinese character for "rabbit" 兔.
In smaller letters around below left, the date of issue and the precious metal content: 2023 1oz 9999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.99% silver). The rest of the inner circle features intricate patterning with stylised depictions of snapdragons, said to be lucky flowers for those born in the Year of the Rabbit.
The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is on the right. The designer's initials NM (for Natasha Muhl) are on a flower below right.
The outer rim is decorated with an "Oriental" geometric pattern. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
YEAR OF THE RABBIT 兔 2023 1oz 9999 SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, opal inserts.
Packaging: in display case with a clear lid that comes in an illustrated shipper.
Perth Mint SKU: 23M76AAA
Release date: January 2023.
Release price: AU$ 150.00
The Year of the Rabbit series had been announced earlier, but its release was delayed until 27 September 2022 due to a period of mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II; her effigy is on the coins even though they were issued when King Charles III was already on the throne. |
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| See also |
Year of the Rabbit 2023 coins issued by the Perth Mint include:
- Australia, Platinum Ounce Bullion ($100), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Ten Ounces Bullion ($1,000), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Two Ounces Bullion ($200), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Ounce Bullion ($100) with proof version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Ounce Proof High Relief ($100), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Half Ounce Bullion ($50), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Quarter Ounce Bullion ($25) with proof version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Tenth-Ounce Bullion ($15) with proof version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Gold Twentieth-Ounce Bullion ($5), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Ten Kilos Bullion ($300), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Kilo Bullion ($30) with coloured version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Five Ounces Bullion ($8) with coloured version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Five Ounces Proof High Relief ($8), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Two Ounces Bullion ($2) with proof and coloured versions, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Two Ounces Antique ($2), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Ounce Bullion ($1) with proof and coloured proof versions, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Ounce Proof High Relief ($1), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Ounce ($1) with Opal, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Half Ounce Bullion (50 Cents), proof & coloured versions, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Quarter Ounce Coloured (25 Cents), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Aluminium Bronze $1 Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Tuvalu, Gold Fifth-Ounce, Year of the Rabbit 2023 - Prosperity
- Tuvalu, Gold Fifth-Ounce, Year of the Rabbit 2023 - Longevity
- Tuvalu, Gold Fifth-Ounce, Year of the Rabbit 2023 - Success
- Tuvalu, Silver Coloured Quadrant (x4 one-ounce coins), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Tuvalu, Silver Ounce Antique ($1) with Rotating Charm, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Tuvalu, Silver Half Ounce Coloured (50 cents), Baby Rabbit
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