500 Kip YEAR OF THE RAT

Laos has issued lunar series coinage primarily for the export collector market since the 1990s, with virtually none entering domestic circulation — the kip's purchasing power makes a gold coin denominated at 500 kip a purely nominal exercise. The 2020 Rat issue falls within a broader wave of sub-gram gold miniatures produced across Southeast Asian issuing authorities that year, largely struck at European mints under license.