| Coin | Silver Half Ounce 2023 Year of the Rabbit - Baby Rabbit |
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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 2023 Year of the Rabbit by the Perth Mint, and features a Baby Rabbit.
The Mint says about it:
Simply gorgeous, the baby rabbit 1/2oz silver proof coin is a wonderful gift idea for proud parents, family or friends welcoming an infant born under the lunar zodiac sign of the rabbit.
The ancient lunar zodiac comprises 12 animal signs, each said to bestow desirable characteristics on those born under its influence. According to tradition, rabbit children will likely be blessed with intelligence, creativity, vigilance and compassion. |
| 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 2023 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 delightful coloured illustration of a cute rabbit kitten in a grassy patch of buttercups".
Around above, the inscription YEAR OF THE RABBIT. Below right, the Chinese character for "rabbit": 兔.
The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is on the left. Below 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 RABBIT兔 |
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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 cover sheathed in a "colourfully illustrated shipper" and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Perth Mint SKU: 23M46AAA
Issue price: AU$ 74.00
The 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 technically issued when King Charles III was already on the throne. |
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| See also |
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
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), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Five Ounces Bullion ($8), 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) with proof version, Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Silver Quarter Ounce Coloured (25 Cents), Year of the Rabbit 2023
- Australia, Aluminium Bronze $1 in Year of the Rabbit 2023 PNC
- 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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