Pitcairn Island Coins
YEAR OF THE RAT
DescriptionYear of the Rat

Chinese New Year also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year’s Day, celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar

The New Zealand Mint is proud to announce our coin issues celebrating the Lunar New Year. This proof-like coin provides a very cute and friendly rat to represent the Year of the Rat.

Year of the Rat

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are perhaps the most organized and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat’s natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Year of the RatBehind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have an immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit another person, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculating and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection. Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Monkeys, Oxen, and Dragons.
 
Year of the RatObverse

The obverse of the coin features the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign of the Commonwealth and Pitcairn Islands the year ‘2008’ and the denomination of NZ$2.00.
(Click image to enlarge)

Reverse
Year of the Rat



The reverse features a engraved representation of a a cute little rat in relief colour with a blue background “Year of the Rat” “2008”, “1 oz  999 silver” .





SPECIFICATIONS

Composition:  Silver 99.9% Sorry - Sold Out
Weight:  One Troy Ounce (31.10grams)
Quality:  Proof-Like
Diameter:  40.7mm
Denomination: NZ$2
Country of Issue:  Pitcairn Islands
Year of Issue: 2008
Mintage: 30,000
Price NZ$ $79.00