| Coin | Silver Half Ounce 2020 Year of the Mouse - Baby Mouse |
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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 half ounce silver format (abbreviated as 1/2 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.
This coin is part of the Chinese Astrological Series 2020 Year of the Mouse by the Perth Mint.
The Mint says about it:
An adorable design makes this Year of the Mouse-inspired 1/2oz silver coin the perfect gift celebrating a newborn in 2020. Those born under the sign of the lunar mouse are said to possess enterprising spirits and a willingness to work hard to achieve their goals. They are smart, adaptable and curious by nature. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage |
7,500
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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 1/2oz 9999 Ag 2020 TUVALU 50 CENTS.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1/2 oz 9999 Ag" means "half ounce of 99.99% silver" - Ag is abbreviated from the Latin word for silver, Argentum. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin’s reverse depicts "a coloured representation of a baby mouse eating cheese atop a beautifully wrapped present".
Above the figure, the Chinese character for "mouse" 鼠. Around above, the inscription YEAR OF THE MOUSE.
The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is below right. Above the gift box and on the right, the designer's initials JM (for Jennifer McKenna).
The face value and the precious metal content are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
YEAR OF THE MOUSE 鼠 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 0.500
Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: the coin is housed in a classic display case with a clear lid sheathed in a "charmingly illustrated shipper" and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint SKU: 20G20AAA
Issue price: AU$ 74.00, US$ 51.83 |
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| See also |
Year of the Mouse 2020 coins issued by the Perth Mint include:
- Australia, Platinum Ounce ($100) Proof, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Ten Ounces ($1000), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Two Ounces ($200), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Ounce ($100) High Relief, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Ounce ($100), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Half Ounce ($50), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Quarter Ounce ($25), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Tenth-Ounce ($15), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Gold Twentieth-Ounce ($5), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Ten Kilos ($300), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Kilo ($30), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Five Ounces ($8) High Relief, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Five Ounces ($8) Bullion with coloured version, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Two Ounces ($2) Antique, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Two Ounces ($2) Coloured, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Two Ounces ($2) with coloured version, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Ounce ($1) with Opal, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Ounce ($1) High Relief, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Ounce ($1) with coloured and gilded versions, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Half Ounce (50c) with coloured version, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Quarter Ounce (25c) coloured, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Silver Quarter Ounce (25c) coloured - China design, Year of the Mouse 2020
- Australia, Aluminium Bronze $1 in Year of the Mouse 2020 PNC
- Tuvalu, Silver Coloured Quadrant (x4 one-ounce coins), Year of the Mouse 2020
- Tuvalu, Silver Half Ounce (50 cents), Baby Mouse
- Tuvalu, Aluminium Bronze $1, Tom and Jerry (Year of the Mouse)
Lunar baby animal coloured coins issued for Tuvalu include:
- 1/2 Silver Coloured Proof, Baby Pig 2019
- 1/2 Silver Coloured Proof, Baby Mouse 2020
- 1/2 Silver Coloured Proof, Baby Ox 2021
- 1/2 Silver Coloured Proof, Baby Tiger 2022
- 1/2 Silver Coloured Proof, Baby Rabbit 2023
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