Perth Mint’s Lunar Series I program, launched in 1996, introduced collectors to a twelve-year cycle of coins celebrating the animals of the Chinese zodiac with exceptional artistry and craftsmanship. This groundbreaking series featured designs by renowned artist Ing Ing Jong and was produced in both gold and silver across multiple sizes, from fractional ounces to kilogram weights. Right now, 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coins are available at JM Bullion.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives in a plastic capsule!
• 10th release in the Silver Lunar Series I program!
• Final mintage of only 7,221 coins!
• Contains 2 troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Bears a face value of $2 (AUD) backed by the federal government of Australia.
• The obverse features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II.
• On the reverse is a rat standing on its hind legs.

Each 2008 2 oz Australian Silver Lunar Rat Coin comes with an acrylic capsule. This release had a final mintage of 7,221 coins, making it the third-lowest 2 oz silver issue in the Lunar Series I program, behind only the 2010 and 2009 coins. 

The Lunar Series I silver program is unique among the Lunar Collections from Perth Mint. While Lunar Series I started in 1996 with gold bullion coins, silver was not introduced until 1999. As a result, the Lunar Series I program not only followed a different order for the animals in the lunar cycle, but it also overlapped with the Lunar Series II program in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Interestingly, while the final three coins in Lunar Series I featured 2008, 2009, and 2010 designs, all three were issued in 2007 and feature this date on the coin’s obverse.

The 2008 Australian Silver Lunar Rat’s obverse design features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the standard portrait used on Australian coinage during this period, surrounded by the inscription denoting her title and the monetary denomination. The portrait presents the Queen in right-facing profile, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. The design elements are arranged to balance the portrait with the necessary inscriptional information in an elegant composition.

The 2008 2 oz Silver Lunar Art Coin’s reverse features the image of a lone rat. The intricate artwork captures the texture of the rat’s fur and the delicate grain heads with remarkable precision, demonstrating Perth Mint’s superior striking capabilities. The Chinese character for rat appears within the design field, along with the identifying hallmarks, all arranged to create a harmonious and culturally resonant composition.

If you have any questions about silver coins for sale, please feel free to ask. JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508, online using our web chat, and via our email address.