1 Kilo Lunar III Rabbit | Silver | 2023

This 1 kilo Lunar III rabbit silver is literally an enormous example of minting excellence. It is struck from 1 kilo of 99.99% pure silver and is produced by the mighty Perth Mint. The Perth Mint has amazing skills from its long and respected history, but its successful modernisation allows the production of outstanding coins like this one available on Coininvest today. Founded in 1899, the Perth Mint has more than 100 years of minting excellence and features significantly in the history of Western Australia.

What’s behind the design?

In January 2023, we stepped into a new year and in the Chinese Lunar calendar, 2023 is the year of the Rabbit. And an opportunity seized by the Perth Mint to release a new coin celebrating this beautiful animal and part of the very popular Lunar series III.

Each Lunar Series program available from Perth Mint, dating back to 1996 and the first series, has started with the Year of the Mouse and concluded with the Year of the Pig. This follows the exact 12-year cycle of the Zodiac, making Perth Mints collection one of the few to start and end on the proper years aligning with the Chinese Lunar Calendars start and end.

Did you know?

The Lunar Series is based on the Chinese Zodiac calendar which takes its origin from the Legend of the Great race organised by the Chinese Emperor. He called the animals to him and all who wished to race had to cross a wide river. The first 12 animals to reach the other side would have a year named after them.

The mouse arrived first hitching a ride on the back of the ox. The tiger used his power to make it to shore in third place. And the rabbit cleverly jumped from stone to stone and caught a log which floated to the banks. He then became the fourth animal in the Zodiac calendar! The rabbit is said to bestow intelligence, creativity, vigilance and compassion on those born under its influence in 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2023.

The reverse of the coin

The reverse of the coin portrays two busy little rabbits in the countryside. One is sitting down, ears alert looking to its left. The other rabbit next to him is stretching towards a branch trying to catch the fruits or the buds. The rabbit is said to be intelligent, creative, curious and high spirited - this design really captures these traits. Also included in the design is the Chinese character for rabbit, the inscription “RABBIT 2023” and the Perth Mint”s “P” mintmark.

The obverse of the coin

On the obverse of the coin, Jody Clark’s now famous design of the Queen Elizabeth stands proud. Although developed in 2015 by Mr Clark, the design only debuted at Perth Mint in 2018 and did not feature on Lunar Series coins until 2020. Turning to the left , the Late queen is wearing her royal crown, a necklace and beautiful matching earrings.The attention to details (her hair, neckline, crowns) is astonishing.A truly beautiful portrait of a remarkable person. Around the coin can be found the inscriptions “Elizabeth II, Australian, 1 Kilo, 9999 Ag and the face value 30 Dollars”.

By investing in the 1 kilo Lunar III silver rabbit, you will not only acquire a coin created by the Perth Mint, part of the elite group of mints around the world but also enjoy its design which is not far off remarkable.