50 Cents - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait - Year of the Mouse - Silver Bullion Coin

The "Year of the Mouse" branding on this issue reflects a deliberate commercial reorientation by the Perth Mint in the mid-2000s toward Asian bullion markets, particularly mainland China and the Chinese diaspora. The lunar series had been running since 1996, and by 2008 the Rat — rebranded "Mouse" for Western palatability — completed the first full twelve-year cycle, making this issue the closing piece of Series I before the format was relaunched.

Mintage for the 1/2 oz silver denomination in this year was capped at 100,000 pieces.