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{{/presale}} {{#promotion_on}}Perth Mint introduced its Lunar Series I program in 1996, creating a 12-year coin series inspired by the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The collection quickly became a favorite among collectors thanks to its attractive designs and consistent quality. With designs created by Ing Ing Jong, the series was produced in both silver and gold formats and offered in a wide range of sizes, including fractional pieces and larger kilogram coins. Right now, 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coins are available at BGASC.
Highlights:
Each 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin is delivered in an acrylic capsule. With a final mintage of only 7,221 coins, this release is considered one of the lower-minted issues of the Lunar Series I 2 oz silver lineup. In fact, it stands as the third-lowest 2 oz mintage in the entire series, surpassed only by the 2009 and 2010 coins.
Obverse
The obverse design of the 2008 Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is shown in right-facing profile wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Around the portrait are inscriptions noting her title, along with the denomination and other identifying details, arranged in a clean and well-balanced layout.
Reverse
On the reverse of the 2009 2 oz Silver Lunar Art Coin is a detailed depiction of a rat. Fine engraving is visible throughout the rats fur and the nearby grain heads, highlighting the quality of Perth Mints strike. The design also includes the Chinese character for rat and the coins identifying inscriptions, positioned to maintain a neat overall appearance.
History
Among Perth Mints lunar programs, Lunar Series I silver issues are known for having a different production schedule than expected. Lunar Series I started in 1996 as a gold bullion series, but the silver coins were not released until 1999. Because of that later start, the Lunar Series I silver issues followed a different animal order compared to the gold releases. The silver Lunar Series I coins also overlapped with the Lunar Series II silver releases in 2008, 2009, and 2010. It is worth noting that even though the final three coins in Lunar Series I showcased 2008, 2009, and 2010 designs, they were all struck and issued in 2007, with that date appearing on the obverse.
Ordering
If you have any questions about silver coins for sale, please feel free to ask. BGASC customer service is available at 888-992-4272, online using our web chat, and via our email address.
When the subtotal of your purchase, including applicable discounts, is $199 or more, you receive free shipping for your entire order. In order to receive free shipping on purchases of $199 or more, you must live within the 50 US states. For orders less than $199, a $9.95 shipping fee applies. All products are discreetly packaged and shipped with full insurance included.
Most BGASC orders are shipped within one (1) business day of your payment clearing. Payments made via PayPal clear instantly. Bitcoin payments clear instantly once the transaction is confirmed. Credit Card and bank wire payments process within 1 business day. ACH and paper check payments take 3-5 business days. Once payments are processed, products are released to fulfillment for packaging and shipping.
All orders of $199 or more that are eligible for free shipping are, by default, shipped via a carrier of our choice (USPS or UPS). Depending on the contents and size of your purchase, you may be able to upgrade to a specific carrier during checkout.
For those orders of $999.99 or less, there is no need to sign for your package. However, you may select the option to require a signature at delivery if you want. This can be chosen and paid for at checkout. All orders of $1000 or more require a signature to complete delivery.
BGASC is only able to ship to addresses in any of the 50 US states. This includes P.O. boxes and APO addresses.