Year of the Tiger

This one-ounce high-relief gold proof coin with a face value of $100 was issued as part of the Perth Mint’s Lunar Series III to mark the Chinese Year of the Tiger (1 February 2022 to 21 January 2023).

The Mint says about it:
Meticulously crafted from pure gold in flawless proof quality in high relief, this coin from the Australian Lunar Series is a prestigious acquisition or gift for anyone born under the lunar zodiac sign of the tiger.

First issued in 1996, the long-running Australian Lunar Coin Series celebrates the animals of the ancient lunar zodiac with a sequence of annual designs portraying the mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. This spectacular gold proof coin celebrates the tiger, which is said to bestow courage, confidence and charm on those born under its influence in 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 and 2022.

Featuring a noticeably deep strike on the coin’s concave surface, the release portrays a fearless tiger standing on a peak with its open jaws displaying razor sharp canine teeth.

OBVERSE
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown and the Victoria Coronation necklace worn for her Coronation. This is her effigy known as the “Fifth Portrait” worldwide and “Sixth Portrait” in Australia, in “uncouped” version – showing the Queen’s shoulders and not terminating at the neck as the normal version.

On the left, in small letters on the Queen’s shoulder, the artist’s initials J.C (for Jody Clark).

Running continuously around the rim is the monarch’s legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1oz 9999 Au 100 DOLLARS.

The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. “1 oz 9999 Au” means “one ounce of 99.99% gold” – Au is abbreviated from the Latin word for gold, Aurum.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1oz 9999 Au 100 DOLLARS

REVERSE
The reverse of the coin “portrays a fearless tiger standing on a peak with its open jaws displaying razor sharp canine teeth”.

Above left, the Chinese character for “tiger” 虎, below which, TIGER and 2022.

The mint mark P of the Perth Mint is on the left. The designer’s initials MR (for Monique Reeves) are on the ground below left.

The face value and the precious metal content are on the obverse.

Reverse Inscription 虎 TIGER 2022