Today's coin reveal post features the 2011 Lunar Rabbit Series II .999 Silver Coin struck by The Perth Mint.

1. Coin Story

The Perth Mint Lunar II series started in 2008 with the release of the lunar mouse coin design. The series ran from 2008 until 2019 with the lunar pig being the final coin design in the series.

The 2009 design was an Ox, the 2010 design was a Tiger and the 2011 design was a Rabbit. This post will discuss the 2011 Year of the Rabbit coin design.

The 2oz Lunar Rabbit coins in these photos were purchased from Ainslie Bullion. This was the third ever Lunar Series II coin design that I purchased after the Snake and Dragon designs. I really like the design, even though it has not been very popular historically.

The Lunar Rabbit series II coin design is very underrated. The design for many years struggled to attract much of a premium at all on the secondary market. Both designs either side of the rabbit design are extremely popular and sort after, the 2010 design being the tiger and the 2012 design being the dragon.

As the saying goes, 'patience is a vitue', as the rabbit coin design finally has started to attract some decent premiums on the secondary market. I do not think it will ever be as popular as the tiger or dragon, but through scacity it now attracts a nice healthy premium.

The Lunar Rabbit coin was issued in various sizes by The Perth Mint. The coin sizes are listed below:

• 1/2oz Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.
• 1oz Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.
• 2oz Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.
• 5oz Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.
• 10oz Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.
• 1 Kilo Lunar Rabbit Series II Coin.

2. Coin Packaging

These coins are packaged in individual sealed plastic capsules. The 1/2oz and 1oz versions were sold in plastic wrap rolls of twenty coins per roll. The 2oz coins were sold in plastic wrap rolls of five coins per roll. The 5oz and 10oz coins were sold on protected cardboard sleeves.

3. Coin Details

a. Mintage

The mintage of this coin design varied per coin size. Each of the coins were issued as legal tender under the authority of the Australian Government. The denomination of each varied per coin size.

The Perth Mint provide a very useful PDF document that is available for download that lays out all this information very clearly. You can access the link via the address provided below:

Lunar Series II mintages

b. Purity

The purity of each of the coins in the series is .999 fine silver irrespective of coin size.

c. Details

Mint/Brand:	The Perth Mint
Silver Content:	1/2oz, 1oz, 2oz, 5oz, 10oz and 1kg
Purity:	.999 Fine Silver
Denomination:	50c, $1, $2, $8, $10, $30
Year of Issue:	2011
Edge:	Milled

d. Privy Mark

The 2011 Lunar Rabbit series II coin did not have a Privy Mark version of the coin issued.

4. Coin Design

a. Reverse Design

The reverse of the coin depicts a mother and baby rabbit in a field, with a stylised Chinese background.

The design includes an inscription 'Year of the Rabbit' and the Chinese symbol for rabbit.

b. Obverse Design

The obverse of the coin portrays the effigy of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The denomination of the coin, that varies per size. The coin weight in troy ounces, that varies by size. The silver purity of .999 Fine Silver and the year of issue of 2011.

The design includes the inscriptions 'ELIZABETH II' and 'AUSTRALIA'.

Post authored by @strenue