22 October 2019
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To mark the first sign of the Chinese lunar zodiac, the Royal Australian Mint has released a Year of the Rat coin collection and launched a competition to win a limited edition gold proof domed coin.
The coins celebrate the 2020 Year of the Rat, the first sign of the Chinese lunar zodiac and the start of the twelve-year lunar calendar cycle. The coins are a special tribute to the clever, outgoing and sensitive people who will be born under the first sign of Sheng Xiao, the Chinese Zodiac. For people born in the Year of the Rat, the number 2 is believed to be lucky - so 2020 is a particularly fortunate year.
Coin designs
In the new collection, designs featured on the coins include the sharp-witted Rat surrounded by the lucky lychee, the symbol Fu meaning happiness and the lunar calendar wheel, which reflects the traditional story of the race between the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
According to Chinese tradition, the Emperor of Heaven challenged the animals to a race. The smart, persuasive Rat hitched a ride with the Ox and won the honour of being the first sign of the twelve-year lunar calendar.
Coin competition
Royal Australian Mint is offering the opportunity to win a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $100 1 Au Proof Domed Coin. Second prize is a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $5 1 Ag Proof Domed Coin signed by the Mint’s CEO and the coin designer and third prize is a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $1 1/2oz Silver Frosted Ingot Year of the Rat also signed by the Mint’s CEO and the coin designer. Customers who purchase a product within the 2020 Lunar Year of the Rat collection between 1 October 2019 and 2 December 2019, can enter the competition to win, simply by sharing a photo featuring their purchased coin and their favourite lunar year animal by 2 December 2019. Winners will be announced by 10 February 2020. Complete instructions on how to enter and conditions of entry are available here.
Coin details
The coins are: 50c Uncirculated Tetra-Decagon Coin; $100 Gold Domed Coin; $5 Fine Silver Proof Domed Coin; $1 Uncirculated Coin. To order, visit the Mint's website.
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(images courtesy Royal Australian Mint)
