2008 1 oz Australia Silver Lunar Rat BU - Series I

The 2008 1 oz Silver Lunar Rat marks the eleventh release in the Perth Mint's Lunar Series I, which began in 1999 and follows the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Celebrating the Year of the Rat, this coin symbolizes intelligence, adaptability, and strategic thinking-qualities long revered in Eastern traditions. Struck in .999 fine silver, the Lunar Rat continues the minimalist, elegant design tradition that defines the Series I program.

Design Insight:

The reverse artwork is serene and symbolic, depicting a lone rat with a poised and alert expression-suggesting calculated awareness and cunning. The background remains minimalistic, drawing attention to the featured animal and the symbolic power it carries.

Collector Note:

As the penultimate release in the Lunar Series I program, the 2008 Lunar Rat holds high significance for collectors building the full 12-coin silver set. It’s also notable as one of the final designs before the Perth Mint transitioned to the larger-format Series II later that same year.

Highlights:

• Face value: 1 Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Contains 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver
• Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition
• Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley
• Reverse: A single rat crouched atop a rock, with the Chinese character for "Rat" and the inscription "Year of the Rat", "2008."
• 11th release in the Lunar Series I silver coin series