Silver Ounce 1996 Year of the Mouse, Coin from Cook Islands - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.

Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).

Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II COOK ISLANDS 1996.

The reverse shows a mouse sitting in a small basket.

Around above, the inscription LUNAR YEAR OF THE MOUSE. Around below, the face value 20 DOLLARS.

In the right field, the precious metal content: 1 OZ 999 SILVER (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver), below which the P mint mark of the Perth Mint.

Finish: proof.
3,000 coins distributed individually boxed from a total mintage of 3,000; we have not been able to find out anything about the other 5,000.

Year of the Mouse 1996 (Lunar Series I) coins issued by the Perth Mint include:
- Australia, Gold Ounce ($100), Year of the Mouse 1996
- Australia, Gold Quarter Ounce ($25), Year of the Mouse 1996
- Australia, Gold Tenth-Ounce ($15), Year of the Mouse 1996
- Australia, Gold Twentieth-Ounce ($5), Year of the Mouse 1996
- Cook Islands, 15 grams Gold Coloured ($100), Year of the Mouse 1996 - Disney
- Cook Islands, 8 grams Gold Coloured ($50), Year of the Mouse 1996 - Disney
- Cook Islands, 3 grams Gold Coloured ($20), Year of the Mouse 1996 - Disney
- Cook Islands, Silver Ounce ($1), Year of the Mouse 1996