| Coin | Silver Five Ounces 2023 Chinese Zodiac - Twelve Lunar Animals |
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The Tuvaluan Dollar is the currency of Tuvalu - a small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu has never had banknotes of its own, and has been issuing coins since 1976; these circulate together with coins of the Australian Dollar, which is also legal tender in the country, and to which the Tuvaluan Dollar is pegged.
The Australian Perth Mint issues a large variety of non-circulating legal tender coins under the authority of Tuvalu. Some of these are in the silver five-ounce format (abbreviated as 5 oz). Strictly speaking, they are not bullion as they are priced at a premium and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic merit and collectable value and not just for their precious metal content.
The mint says about this coin:
Each year of the lunar calendar is overseen by one of 12 animals auspicious in Chinese culture. According to legend, the order of the animals was decided by the Emperor's 'Great Race'. The first animal to cross the line was the rat, who marks the first year of each new lunar cycle. Following years are represented by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
Considered to have a powerful influence on the personalities of people born under their rule, these animals are also believed to affect people's compatibility, marriage, fortune, and career prospects. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
488
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: QUEEN ELIZABETH II 5oz 9999 SILVER 2023 TUVALU 5 DOLLARS.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content: five troy ounces of 99.99% silver.
Below the portrait are the dates of the Queen's reign, 1952 - 2022. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin portrays the twelve lunar animals from the Chinese Lunar Calendar in colour. From the top clockwise, these include: ox, mouse, pig, dog, rooster, monkey, goat, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, and tiger.
The lunar animals surround a "bagua" symbol with a black and white yin yang symbol in the middle.
The designer's initials SR (for Sean Rogers) are below right, in the panel of the monkey. There is no inscription. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
(none) |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 5.000
Finish: antiqued, coloured.
Packaging: in classic black display case and illustrated shipper, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint SKU: 23Q10AAA
Release price: AU$ 598.00
The coin was issued during the reign of King Charles III; however, as there was no portrait of the king approved for use in Tuvalu yet, the obverse of the coin portrays a "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse" with the dates of her reign - "1952 - 2022". |
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| See also |
Coins in the Chinese Myths and Legends series issued for Tuvalu include:
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Dragons of Legend - Chinese Dragon, 2012
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2014
- 5 oz Silver, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2015
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, The Dragon and His Nine Sons, 2015
- 5 oz Silver, The Dragon and His Nine Sons, 2016
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Koi Fish Jumps the Dragon Gate, 2016
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2016
- 1 oz Silver, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2016
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon, 2017
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Dragon, 2018
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Phoenix, 2018
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Qi Lin and Unicorn, 2018
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Phoenix, 2019
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Double Dragon, 2019
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Phoenix, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Guan Yu, 2020
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2020
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Fu, Lu and Shou, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Chinese Mythical Creatures, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Zhao Yun, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Yin Yang Koi, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Double Phoenix, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Antique, Dragon and Tiger, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, White Tiger, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and Qilin, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Fu, Lu and Shou, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Double Dragon and Double Tiger, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Phoenix and Birds, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Coloured, Yin Yang Koi, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and the Five Elements, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Dragon and Phoenix, 2024
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Five Auspicious Creatures, 2024
Tuvalu coins featuring the Signs of the Zodiac and the Lunar Calendar:
- 5 oz Silver Antique, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Signs of the Zodiac, 2020
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Signs of the Zodiac, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Signs of the Zodiac, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Signs of the Zodiac, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Antique Coloured, Twelve Lunar Animals, 2023
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