Perth Mint’s Lunar Series I program debuted in 1996 and introduced collectors to a 12-year release schedule honoring the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The series quickly became popular thanks to its detailed designs and strong overall quality. Featuring artwork from Ing Ing Jong, these coins were offered in both gold and silver formats and struck in a wide range of sizes, including fractional weights and large-format issues. Right now, 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coins are available at BullionMax.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives in a plastic capsule!
• 10th release in the Silver Lunar Series I program!
• Final mintage of only 7,221 coins!
• Contains 2 troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Bears a face value of $2 (AUD) backed by the federal government of Australia.
• The obverse features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II.
• On the reverse is a rat standing on its hind legs.

Each 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin is housed in an acrylic capsule for protection. With a final mintage limited to just 7,221 coins, this release is one of the lowest-minted 2 oz coins in the Lunar Series I silver collection. In fact, it ranks as the third-lowest mintage of the 2 oz Silver Lunar Series I issues, with only the 2009 and 2010 releases coming in lower.

The Lunar Series I silver collection stands out from other Perth Mint lunar programs due to its unique release history. While the Lunar Series I program launched in 1996 with gold bullion coins, the silver versions did not begin until 1999. Because of this delayed introduction, the silver series followed a different order for the zodiac animals than the original gold issues. Additionally, Lunar Series I overlapped with the start of Lunar Series II during the years 2008 through 2010. Interestingly enough, despite featuring 2008, 2009, and 2010 designs, the final three coins of Lunar Series I were all released in 2007 and include the 2007 date on the obverse of the coin.

The obverse of the 2008 Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Shown in right-profile relief, the Queen wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Surrounding the portrait are inscriptions noting her title, along with the coin’s denomination and issuing country.

On the reverse of the coin is an image of a rat posed on its hind legs. Fine detailing is visible in the rat’s fur and the surrounding elements, showing the high-quality engraving Perth Mint is known for. The Chinese character for “rat” is also included in the design field, along with the coin’s identifying inscriptions.

If you have any questions when buying silver bullion, BullionMax customer service is available at 800-729-3202, online using our web chat, and via our email address.