Silver Ounce 2016 Chinese Mythical Creatures, Coin from Tuvalu - detailed information

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 ounce format (abbreviated as 1 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 1oz silver proof high relief coin is part of the Chinese Ancient Mythical Creatures series by the Perth Mint.

The mint says about the coin:
According to ancient Chinese mythology, the universe was divided into four quadrants marking the beginning and end of the winter and summer solstices, and the autumn and spring equinoxes. These heavenly quadrants were known as the "Four Celestial Palaces", with each palace represented by a guardian animal with a corresponding colour, element, and virtue.

The coin’s reverse portrays the four Chinese ancient mythical creatures, with a yin-yang symbol in the centre.

The coin’s high relief reverse and obverse are minted on concave surfaces to ensure the optimum flow of metal is achieved by the strike of the die.