Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
50 Yuan Year of the Rat
| Issuer | People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | A stylized depiction of a rat rendered in a traditional Chinese artistic style occupies the central field, shown in profile with fine engraved detail. The legend 中华人民共和国 (People's Republic of China) arcs along the upper periphery in Chinese characters. The date 2008 appears in the lower exergue. A decorative beaded border frames the entire design. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
China's Lunar Gold series has been issued annually since 1981, making the Rat — first in the twelve-year zodiac cycle — a recurring benchmark year for the program. The 2008 issue coincided with Beijing's Olympic year, a period of extraordinary national expenditure on prestige projects, and the mint's output of gold commemoratives that year was notably broad. Whether that diluted collector demand for any single piece is a fair question.
At 3.11 g, this is a 1/10 troy ounce issue — the smallest standard denomination in the Chinese gold lunar range.