1/4 oz Australian Lunar Year of the Mouse 2008 Gold Coin

History

Australian Lunar gold coin - Year of the Mouse 

The Chinese lunar calendar is today used by many for Taoist cosmology. It is believed that, depending on the year of the zodiac when a person is born, a special relationship exists between the person’s personality and the animal that constitutes part of the Chinese zodiac. The animals in the zodiac are supposed to be of symbolic nature, where each animal is a representation of a specific group of characteristics and traits that can be found in every human being. There are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, each of them being celebrated once every twelve years. The year of the mouse was last celebrated in 2008.   

Those born in the year of the mouse are considered to be good at acquiring and safeguarding riches. This ability stems from their naturally curious mind that always seeks out knowledge and, thanks to their quick-wittedness, they are able to take advantage of opportunities. People born under the year of the mouse tend to have strong intuition, are perfectionists and have excellent taste. They are most often ambitious and, in striving to attain their goals, they will use all their wits to succeed, including being charming, persuasive and charismatic. This can attract others and specifically the opposite sex, and although people born in the year of the mouse tend to enjoy a large social circle they most often have more acquaintances than true friends. But once you become their real friend, they will treat you as their family. People born under the year of the mouse are loyal and devoted to their loved ones, making them especially good parents. It can therefore be seen that the Australian Gold Lunar Year of the Mouse coin is an ideal gift for whoever you love or respect, since giving a Gold Lunar coin means that you are showing affection by immortalising the person’s year of birth and particular virtues in pure and precious golden artwork.

Australian Lunar Year of the Mouse coins – as rare as gold 

The Perth Mint introduced Australian Lunar Year of the Mouse gold coins for the first time in 1996 and subsequently issued the coins again in 2008. The next issue of the Year of the Mouse will only become available in 2020, when the mouse, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, will once again seek out new opportunities. In 1996 the gold coin was offered in 1 oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz and 1/20 oz weights, while the 2008 issue added four new weights: 10 kg, 1 kg, 10 oz, and 2 oz. The one-ounce mintage in 1996 was 16,593 gold coins while in 2008 the issue was sold out, reaching the maximum mintage limit of 30,000 gold coins. If the mintage of all Year of the Mouse gold coins is included, then the total figure rises to 80,252 gold pieces. This is an extremely low figure compared with the mintage of other well-known investment bullion coins. For example, the Australian Kangaroo one-ounce gold coin reaches the corresponding cumulative mintage figure of the Year of the Mouse Gold Series every four months. Australian Lunar Year of the Mouse gold bullion coins are thus well suited for collectors since they are naturally as rare as gold.