Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat, Coin from France - detailed information

Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat, Coin from France
CoinQuarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat

Like many other mints, Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint) issues coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. Some of them are around 20 grams of silver, denominated as various amounts of Euro. They are legal tender only in France and not in the whole Eurozone - only the regular circulating coins from 1 Euro Cent to 2 Euro are legal tender in all member countries, while all other denominations are legal tender in the issuing country only.

Some of these coins are issued around the theme of the Chinese Lunar Calendar - a zodiac with a twelve-year cycle in which every year is associated with one of twelve different animals.

This coin, denominated as a quarter Euro (€0.25), is dedicated to the Chinese 2008 Year of the Rat, also known as Year of the Mouse (7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009).

MintParis Mint Mint MarkCornucopia Total Mintage 5,267
Obverse
France / Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin depicts the famous French writer Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695), who is best known for his "Fables" which feature many animals as story characters. On the right, the silhouettes of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: snake, tiger, monkey, dog, horse, goat, dragon, ox, mouse, rooster, pig, and rabbit.

Around above left, the inscription Fables de la Fontaine.

Above the animals, the face value 1/4 EURO. In the exergue, the date of issue 2008.

To the left of the date, the Cornucopia privy mark of the Paris Mint. On the right, the personal privy mark of the Chief Engraver of the mint Hubert Larivière, combining a hunting horn, a wave and a fish.

Obverse Inscription Fables de la Fontaine 1/4 EURO 2008
Reverse
France / Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat - reverse photo

The reverse design depicts a rat, surrounded by a large floral ornament.

Around above, the inscription Année du Rat (Year of the Rat).

Below, the Chinese character for rat, , and the date 2008.

Reverse Inscription Année du Rat 鼠 2008
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Finish: proof.
Packaging: in presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Strangely, the name of the issuing country seems to be omitted on the coin.

See also

There is also a gold coin with the same design.

All (20) coins of type: Twenty Grams Silver
Coin NameMintageLegend
Quarter Euro Silver 2006 Year of the Dog 10,000 Fables de la Fontaine 1/4 EURO 2006
Quarter Euro Silver 2007 Year of the Pig 9,954 Fables de la Fontaine 1/4 EURO 2007
Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat 5,267 Fables de la Fontaine 1/4 EURO 2008
Five Euro Silver 2009 Year of the Ox 4,738 Année du Boeuf 牛 2009 RF
Five Euro Silver 2010 Year of the Tiger 8,072 Année du Tigre 虎 2010 RF
Five Euro Silver 2011 Year of the Rabbit 6,859 兔 Année du Lapin 2011 RF
Ten Euro Silver 2012 Year of the Dragon 7,178 龙 2012 Année du Dragon 法兰西共和国 RF
Ten Euro Silver 2013 Year of the Snake 5,000 蛇 Année du Serpent 2013 RF
Ten Euro Silver 2014 Year of the Horse 4,471 馬 Année du Cheval 2014 RF
Ten Euro Silver 2015 Year of the Goat 10,000 羊 2015 Année de la Chèvre RF
Ten Euro Silver 2016 Year of the Monkey 5,000 猴 2016 Année du Singe RF
Ten Euro Silver 2017 Year of the Rooster 5,000 鸡 2017 Année du Coq RF
Ten Euro Silver 2018 Year of the Dog 5,000 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2019 Year of the Pig 2,500 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2020 Year of the Rat 2,500 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2021 Year of the Buffalo 3,000 50 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2022 Year of the Tiger 3,000 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2023 Year of the Rabbit 3,000 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2024 Year of the Dragon 3,000 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
Ten Euro Silver 2025 Year of the Snake 3,000 10 EURO RF CALENDRIER CHINOIS
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Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat: Details
CountryFrance
CurrencyEuro, France
Coin TypeTwenty Grams Silver, Lunar
Issued2008
Face Value1/4 (x Euro, France)
Total Mintage5,267
Mintage Limit10,000
CurrentYes
Material0.900 Silver
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size37.0000 mm
Mass22.2000 g
OCC IDANMQ-EPYC-NDJM-OJYG
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Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat: Photos
ImageDetails
Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat: Photo France, Monnaie de Paris, 1/4 Euro Year of the Rat - 2008 - Proof / thumbnail France, Monnaie de Paris, 1/4 Euro Year of the Rat - 2008 - Proof
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat: Photo France, Monnaie de Paris, 1/4 Euro Year of the Rat - 2008 - Proof / thumbnail France, Monnaie de Paris, 1/4 Euro Year of the Rat - 2008 - Proof
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Quarter Euro Silver 2008 Year of the Rat: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsFrance KM# 1572