Reputedly
the oldest chronological record in history, the ancient Chinese Lunar
Calendar dates back beyond 2,600 BC. Based on the appearance of the new
moon, it associates a different animal with each year in the 12-year
lunar cycle.
Traditionally, the first year of the lunar cycle is
‘ruled’ by the mouse. According to legend, the
order of the animals in
Chinese astrology was determined by their race across a river. Unknown
to the ox, the mouse hitched a ride on its back, leaping to victory at
the very last second. The tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat,
monkey, rooster, dog and pig followed the quick-thinking mouse and the
flabbergasted ox to dry land.
In Chinese culture, each animal is believed to influence the
personality of the people born under its ‘rule’.
Year
of the Rabbit – 3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012
The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. The
rabbit is a particularly lucky emblem and those born under this sign
are believed to have an uncanny gift for choosing the right thing.
Well-respected and wise, people with
‘rabbit’ personalities are renowned for their
excellent memories and good taste. They make honourable and
successful business partners and are also conservative by nature.
Famous people born in the Year of the Rabbit include Brad Pitt
(1963), Angelina Jolie (1975), George Orwell (1903), Germaine Greer
(1939), Albert Einstein (1879), and Confucius (551BC).
Australian
Lunar Series II
2011 Year of the Rabbit
Silver Proof Coin Issues
- Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
- Unique Reverse Design
- Australian Legal Tender
- Extremely Limited Mintages
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Elegant Presentation
- Great Gift Ideas
In
2011, The Perth Mint’s internationally renowned Australian
Lunar Silver
Proof Coin Series II celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth
animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
These superb
releases are perfect for people born in the Year of the Rabbit - 1927,
1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011 - who are regarded as
intelligent, articulate, compassionate and loyal.
Proof Quality 99.9% Pure
Silver
Struck
from 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, the 2011 releases are
available as individual 1oz and 1 kilo coins and a three-coin set (2oz,
1oz, 1/2oz).
Unique Reverse Design
The
reverse of each coin depicts two rabbits nestling under
foliage. The
Chinese character for ‘rabbit’ and the inscription
‘Year of the Rabbit’
also appear in the design with The Perth Mint’s traditional
‘P’
mintmark.
Australian Legal Tender
Issued
as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the Ian
Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2011
year-date and the monetary denomination are shown on the obverse of
each coin.
Extremely Limited Mintages
No more than 5,000 individual 1oz coins, 500 individual kilo coins and
1,000 Three-Coin Sets will be released.
Certificate of
Authenticity
Each coin and set is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of
Authenticity.
Elegant Presentation
Silver
Proof Australian Lunar Series II coins are housed in elegant black and
red display cases, and are each presented in a colourful illustrated
shipper.
Great Gift Ideas
As
well as appealing to proof quality gold coin collectors, these
outstanding releases also make great gifts for people born in any year
‘ruled’ by the Chinese lunar rabbit.
źródło:
Perth Mint / Wikipedia
Rok
Królika - 03
lutego 2011 do 22 stycznia 2012
