The Chinese calendar provides an interesting system of estimating time. This system predates all other known calendars. The "Year of the Rat" begins on February 7. It occurs once in twelve years, so if making certain calculation we come up with the following nearby years of the rat: 1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020.

Two countries decided to issue several commemorative coins to mark this Year of the Rat. Thus the 2008 Year of the Rat, which will take place on February 7, Australia and China with introduce their own unique commemorative coins.

Australia offers the 2008 Australian Lunar Series II, featuring colored "Year of the Mouse" design. In order to mark the "Year of the Mouse", the Australian Perth Mint provides several coins on the topic. These coins will represent the 2008 Australian Lunar Series II collection. One of the pieces is the colorized legal tender Silver Dollar coin, which includes an ounce of 99.9 percent pure silver. This will be the first colorized edition from the Perth Mint collection. The

Mint's representatives mentioned: "The coin's reverse depicts a colored image of two mice on a bed of straw with pumpkins and a vine in the background. As well as the inscription "Year of the Mouse" and the Chinese character for "mouse", the design also incorporates The Perth Mint's "P" mintmark.

There will be 3,800 offered for sale. Each coin from the limited edition will have a price of $50.72. In order to receive more information of the coins consider visiting the official website of the Perth Mint that provides information on both: the Australian Lunar Series II Colorized Mouse, 1oz Silver Coin and 2008 Australian Lunar Series II collection.

"Year of the Mouse" Commemorative Coin to be Introduced in China

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) announced the introduction of the new commemorative coin. The numismatic item, issued today, with celebrate the Year of the Mouse (Rat). Traditionally the mintage of China's commemorative coins by far surpassed coins from the Australian Lunar Series II. PRC issued 10 million commemorative "Year of the Mouse" coins.

Each commemorative coins issued in China is valued at one yuan, which is approximately equal to $0.138 US cents is taking into consideration the current exchange rate.

Unfortunately little is known about the commemorative coins that mark the "Year of the Mouse."