Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit
- Year of Mint: 2011
- Mint: Perth Mint
- Denominations: ¼ ounce, ½ ounce and 1 ounce
- Gold Fineness: .9999
In keeping with the celebration of the ancient Chinese tradition of the Lunar year, Australia minted the released the Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit coin in 2011. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the 12-year Chinese Lunar calendar, which depicts that each year is ruled by a different animal. The Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit coin is one of the second set of Australian coins issued after the success of the first Lunar series, which had started with the Year of the Rat in 1996 and continued until 2007. Individuals born in the Year of the Rabbit are regarded as loyal, articulate, intelligent and compassionate.
The 2011 Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit coin was minted in three distinct versions of ¼ ounce, ½ ounce and 1 ounce with face values of CAD25, CAD50, and CAD100 respectively. The coins have diameters of 18.10mm, 22.60mm, and 39.34mm respectively. In that order, their maximum thicknesses are 2.00mm, 2.20mm and 2.50mm while their minimum gross weights are 3.111g, 7.777g and 31.112g. The coins have actual gold weights of 0.10 t/oz, 0.25 t/oz and 1 t/oz respectively although they all have an equal fineness of 0.9999.
Save for selected contextual inscriptions like face values and that the ½- and 1-ounce coins have darker shades than the ¼-ounce coin, the three denominations of the Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit coin have similar obverse and reverse features. On the obverse, they have Queen Elizabeth II’s bark, crowned effigy facing to the right with the head lifted slightly up. The effigy was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the inscription, “IRB” appears right below the neckline. The text, “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” curve clockwise above the effigy while the inscriptions, “1OZ 9999 gold 2011 [FACE VALUE] DOLLARS” surround the effigy from the bottom in an anticlockwise manner.
The reverse has an engraving of a rabbit facing towards the bottom-left section of the coin, some vegetables above its head and the Chinese symbol for rabbit. The letter, “P” is the traditional mintmark of Perth Mint, which mints the Australian Gold Year of the Rabbit coin.
Additional information
| Mint | The Perth Mint |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Series | Lunar |
| Weight | 3.111 gm, 31.11 gm, 7.777 gm |
| Pure Gold Content | 0.10 Troy oz, 0.25 Troy oz, 1 Troy oz |
| Purity | 999.9 |
| Dimensions | 18.60 mm, 22.60 mm, 39.34 mm |
| Alloy | 999.9 fine gold / 24 carat gold |
| Denomination | $100 AUD, $15 AUD, $25 AUD |
| Quality | Bullion |
