Numismatic

1996 1 oz Gold Lunar Year of the Rat MS-70 PCGS (Series I)

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In 1996, the Perth Mint initiated its celebrated Lunar Series I, beginning a tradition of honoring the Chinese zodiac with exceptional precious metal artistry. This particular coin, containing one troy ounce of 0.9999 pure gold, pays tribute to the Year of the Rat. It has achieved a perfect certified grade of Mint State 70, representing a flawless strike and preservation that highlights every detail of its design. The reverse side of the coin showcases a rat climbing over a rocky landscape, a detailed composition created by artist Tony Dean. Alongside the rodent, the traditional Chinese character representing the rat is inscribed, emphasizing the cultural theme of the series. This side captures the clever and resourceful nature associated with the first animal of the zodiac cycle. On the obverse, the coin displays the elegant effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Raphael Maklouf. Surrounding the portrait are inscriptions indicating the country of issue, Australia, the face value of 100 Dollars, and the purity of the gold content. Although the metadata lists the country as the United Kingdom, the coin itself is a sovereign Australian release backed by the Australian government, with a limited mintage of 16,593 pieces.