To mark the first sign of the Chinese lunar zodiac, the Royal Australian Mint (the Mint) has released a Lunar Year of the Rat coin collection and launched a competition to win a limited edition 2020 gold proof domed coin.
The Royal Australian Mint’s responsible Minister, the Hon Michael Sukkar, the Minister for Housing & Assistant Treasurer said; “ahead of upcoming Chinese New Year festivities in our community, the Royal Australian Mint has released intricately designed collectible coins, which are not only a traditional gift for those who celebrate Chinese New Year but serve as a beautiful tangible memento of the start of the next lunar calendar cycle.”
The Mint’s coin collection celebrates the 2020 Lunar Year of the Rat, which is the first sign of the Chinese lunar zodiac and the start of the twelve-year lunar calendar cycle. The artistic coins are a special tribute to the clever, outgoing and sensitive people who have or will be born under the first sign of Sheng Xiao, the Chinese Zodiac. For people born in the Year of the Rat, the number 2 is believed to be lucky - so 2020 is a particularly fortunate year.
In the new collection, designs featured on the coins include the sharp-witted Rat surrounded by the lucky lychee, the symbol Fu meaning happiness and the lunar calendar wheel, which reflects the traditional story of the race between the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. According to Chinese tradition, the Emperor of Heaven challenged the animals to a race. The smart, persuasive Rat hitched a ride with the Ox and won the honour of being the first sign of the twelve-year lunar calendar.
With the launch of a new competition, the Mint is offering the exclusive opportunity to win a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $100 1 Au Proof Domed Coin. Second prize is a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $5 1 Ag Proof Domed Coin signed by the Mint’s CEO and the coin designer and third prize is a limited edition Lunar Year of the Rat - 2020 $1 1/2oz Silver Frosted Ingot Year of the Rat also signed by the Mint’s CEO and the coin designer. Customers who purchase a product within the 2020 Lunar Year of the Rat collection between Tuesday 1 October 2019 and Monday 2 December 2019, can enter the competition to win, simply by sharing a photo on the Mint’s Facebook page featuring their purchased coin and their favourite lunar year animal by Monday 2 December 2019. Winners will be announced by Monday 10 February 2020.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Purchase at least one product within the 2020 Lunar Year of the Rat collection (50c Tetra-Decagon Uncirculated Coin, 2020 $1 Uncirculated Two-Coin Set, 2020 $1 1/2oz Silver Frosted Ingot, 2020 $5 Fine Silver Domed Proof Coin or the 2020 $100 Gold Proof Domed Coin from the Royal Australian Mint or a Royal Australian Mint Authorised Distributor between Tuesday 1 October 2019 and Monday 2 December 2019.
2. Take a photo with your purchased Lunar Year of the Rat coin and your favourite lunar year animal (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey Rooster, Dog or Pig). This includes but is not limited to; live animals within the lunar year calendar, drawings of lunar animals or dressing up as one of the twelve lunar animals. (Entrants whose photo entry has been deemed unsafe or inappropriate will be invalid).
3. Submit your photo via the Royal Australian Mint’s Facebook page between 12.01am on Tuesday 22 October 2019 and 11.59pm on Monday 2 December 2019.
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianMint/
The First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize winners will be required to make contact with the Royal Australian Mint and provide proof of purchase, proof of identity and age, and their contact details to the Royal Australian Mint by Monday 16 December 2019.
Please note one entry per person only.
Please note: winners of the photo competition will be determined on a basis of skill.
THE PRIZES
First Prize: One eligible Entrant will win one (1) 2020 $100 1 Au Proof Domed Coin – Lunar Year of the Rat.
Second Prize: One eligible Entrant will each win one (1) 2020 $5 1 Ag Proof Domed Coin - Lunar Year of the Rat signed by the Royal Australian Mint CEO and the coin designer.
Third Prize: One eligible Entrant will each win one (1) 2020 $1 1/2oz Silver Frosted Ingot - Year of the Rat - Coin - Year of the Rat signed by the Royal Australian Mint CEO and the coin designer.
KEY DATES
Competition opens: Tuesday 22 October 2019
Competition closes: Monday 2 December 2019
Winner notified through Facebook by: Friday 6 December 2019
Winner announced published on Facebook by: Monday 10 February 2020