A Chinese legend relates how the 12 lunar-zodiac animals were selected by the Jade Emperor. He conducted a race of all the animals, and named years in the order that they finished. During the race across the countryside, the rat hitched a ride on the back of the slow but persistent ox. When the ox was a few feet from the finish line, the rat jumped off and raced ahead to claim the victory and the right to represent the first lunar-zodiac year. Following the rat was the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. Australia issued its first Lunar-Zodiac coin in 1996, "The Year of the Rat," and issues new silver coins each year in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) and Proof (PR or PRF) quality. BU coins are Mint State - lustrous with no sign of wear. Proof coins are specially made for collectors - with sharp details and brilliant mirrorlike fields.
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