Owner Comments:
Series II, The Year Of The Rabbit, This Australian Lunar Silver Coin celebrates the Year
of the RABBIT. The reverse of the coin depicts a Rabbit
and the Chinese character for Rabbit. The Obverse of the
coin features Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II. People born in the years 1927, 1939,
1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 and 1999 are born in the Year of
the Rabbit. The coin is struck from 1 oz of 99.9% pure silver
and was issued as legal tender under the Australian
Currency Act of 1965. According to Chinese legend, before
the Lord Buddha left this Earth, he had summoned all the
animals to come to him, but only twelve came. The first was
the Rat, then the Ox, then the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon,
The Snake, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, the Rooster,
The Dog and finally the Pig. In appreciation of their loyalty,
the names of these twelve animals were given to the years
of the Chinese calendar and their spirits were allowed to live
in the hearts of those born in their particular years. The Chinese
regard the Rabbit as the most refined and well-mannered of
the signs, being kind and sensitive, and able to give good
advice. Rabbits are supposed to be the most long-lived of people.