The Year of the Rat leads off the 12-year cycle of the Zodiac. Each animal in the Chinese Lunar Calendar is placed where it is based on mythological lore dictating that the creatures were racing to meet the Jade Emperor. The order in which those animals arrived resulted in their placement in the 12-year cycle of Shengxiao. Today, you have the opportunity to purchase the 2020 Royal Australian Mint Year of the Rat 1 oz Silver Coin online at Provident Metals.

Highlights:

• Arrives with an individual plastic capsule or in sealed plastic groups of 10 coins!
• 2020 design in the Australian Lunar Series of silver coins from the Royal Australian Mint!
• Limited mintage of just 50,000 silver coins!
• Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver in BU condition.
• The face value of $1 (AUD) is backed by Australia.
• On the obverse side are Queen Elizabeth II and a Zodiac wheel.
• The reverse features a rat with a lychee branch and a half-moon.

When the Jade Emperor called a meeting of the worlds animals, only the 12 featured in the Zodiac answered that call. Known as the Great Race, each of the animals rushed to meet the Jade Emperor. Near the meeting site, the animals had to cross great river. With cunning intellect, the rat hopped on the ox for a ride across the rushing rapids only to hop off just ahead of the finish line to arrive first, resulting in its placement at the start of the 12-year cycle of the Zodiac.

Obverse

On the obverse face of 2020 Royal Australian Mint Year of the Rat 1 oz Silver coins, you will find the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty is depicted here in a 2015 design by Jody Clark. The Australian version of this portrait includes the Queens neckline and shoulders, a first on Australian coins since 1966. The Queen is surrounded on this face of the coin by a Zodiac wheel with each of the 12 animals depicted. The rat is situated at the center-top of the wheel as an indication of its turn in the spotlight for the year.

Reverse

The reverse field of 2020 Royal Australian Mint Year of the Rat 1 oz Silver Coins bears a depiction of a rat standing on a half-moon, indicative of the lunar calendar. In the background, you will notice a lychee branch. The lychee is viewed as a source of intelligence in Chinese culture.

History

The Australian Lunar Series includes 1 oz silver and 1 oz gold bullion coins as the primary investment-grade option in this series. There are also domed proof coins available with the same design in both metals.

Ordering

2020 Royal Australian Mint Year of the Rat 1 oz Silver Coins are available individually in capsules or sealed in plastic for multiples of 10. Each individual coin is in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Please contact Provident Metals with any questions. You can call us at 800-313-3315, chat with us live online, or email us directly.