A tiger cub follows its proud and protective parent across rocky terrain: this is the scene the Perth Mint chose for the 2022 Year of the Tiger in its third Lunar series. This is the half-ounce version of the bullion coin, with a face value of 50 cents.

The mint’s Lunar series follow the twelve-year Chinese zodiac: silver Series I ran from 1999 to 2010, Series II from 2008 to 2020, and Series III opened in 2020 with the Year of the Mouse. The 2022 Tiger is its third release, after the Mouse and the Ox. The one-ounce Tiger was limited to 300,000 coins and sold out; the half-ounce was struck without a limit, and its declared mintage is 104,736.

The reverse was designed by Jennifer McKenna. Beside the tigers are the inscription TIGER, the Chinese character for tiger and the Perth Mint’s P mintmark. In Eastern tradition the Year of the Tiger returns every twelve years (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022) and is associated with determination, courage, confidence and charm. The obverse carries Elizabeth II in the Jody Clark portrait.

The foundation of its value is the metal: half an ounce of 99.99% pure silver. A micro-laser engraved letter, visible under magnification, protects the coin against counterfeiting, and it is supplied in an acrylic capsule.

Grade UNC: the coin has never circulated, shows no wear and its fields retain mint lustre.

Every coin in the VPcoins catalogue tells a small story about the country that issued it.