The Perth Mint has struck a 30mm aluminium bronze coin for inclusion
in Australia Post’s 2008 Year of the Rat Stamp and Coin Cover.
Year of the Rat Reverse Design
The coin’s reverse depicts two rats and the Chinese character for ‘rat’*. The image
is portrayed on The Perth Mint’s exclusive shimmer background, which also incorporates its
familiar ‘P’ mintmark.
Australian Legal Tender
Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin bears
the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.
Australia Post Commemorative Stamps
The card mounted coin fits inside a colourfully illustrated envelope featuring a
$1.45 and a 50c stamp from Australia Post’s popular Christmas Island Lunar New Year
Series. Both stamps, which bear designs based on the Chinese character for ‘rat’, are
postmarked 8 January 2008, the day this Stamp & Coin Cover is released.
*The words ‘rat’ and ‘mouse’ are represented by the same Chinese character.