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25 Dollars - Elizabeth II Year of the Rat
| Issuer | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
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| Composition | Silver (.999) |
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| Reverse description | Two white rats rendered in full polychrome color are depicted clambering over a large red decorative gourd or festive ornament adorned with golden accents and a tasseled red ribbon, evoking traditional Chinese New Year imagery. A silvered pine bonsai tree occupies the left field. The Chinese characters '子年' (Year of the Rat) appear in the right field, while the denomination '$25' is inscribed at the bottom. The date '2008' is placed at the top of the field above the central design. |
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| Reverse lettering | 2008 子 年 $25 .999 |
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| Additional information |
The Cook Islands has operated one of the more prolific bullion and commemorative programs in the Pacific since the 1970s, licensing its authority to overseas minting operations — this piece almost certainly struck by a European mint on contract rather than on island. The 155.5g format places it squarely in the five-troy-ounce category, a weight denomination that gained commercial traction in the mid-2000s collector market.
2008 was the Year of the Rat in the sexagenary cycle — the first sign, marking the start of a new 12-year sequence.