This 1oz coin, crafted from .999 pure silver belongs to the Australian Lunar Series III. It is the second issue of Series III and hails 2021, the Year of the Ox.
The Australian Lunar Coin Series has been running for 25 years and it´s now at its third cycle. The Series celebrates the Chinese zodiac and its animals (mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig) are featured in annual sequence. 2021 is the Year of the Ox, that according to the lunar cycle should influence those born in 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009.
The fascinating reverse of the coin depicts an ox followed by its calf, under a cherry blossom tree, well known as symbol of beauty and love. Also to be found on the coin are the inscription OX 2021, the ideogram for "ox" in Chinese and the "P", to symbolize the Perth Mint.
The obverse of the silver coin shows the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark, in the Lunar II series was the portrait of Ian Rank-Broadley. In addition, the edge of the obverse shows the weight, fineness and face value of the coin. In contrast to the coins of the Lunar II series, there is no year on the obverse of the current Lunar series.
The 1oz coin has limited mintage between 4000 and a maximum of 7500 pieces.You can easily pair it with the Year of the Mouse coin to start creating the Great Race, the traditional Chinese story about the creation of the lunar calendar.