Year of the Snake Australia 2 $ 2025 2 base metal coin set

Face value: Samoa 0,25$
Weight: 40gr
Diameter: 40 mm
Mintage: 6666

Proof copper coin with partial gold plating

In East Asian Buddhism, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities.

Denomination: 5£
Alloy: Cupro-nickel
Weight: 28.28 g
Diameter: 38,6 mm
Quality Brilliant Uncirculated
Year: 2025

On 29 January 2025, the Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Snake. A joyful time marked by communities worldwide, friends and family will gather to enjoy traditional food, watch firework displays and gift children money in red envelopes. Each year is characterised by one of 12 zodiac animals, and 2025 sees the snake in the ascendancy. Many regard the Year of the Snake as the year of strength. Clever and determined, individuals born under this sign are often known for their adaptability, intelligence and agility, can sometimes make advanced judgments that inform their goals, and frequently possess a mature outlook on life.

Denomination: 0,25 €
Alloy: Cupro-nickel Nordicgold
Weight: 15,8 g
Diameter: 34 mm
Quality Brilliant Uncirculated
Year: 2025
In Chinese culture, the snake is the most enigmatic animal of the zodiac.

Natives of the Snake sign are rather secretive and cautious. They are renowned for their wise and calm nature.

According to legend, during the race to select the animals of the zodiac, the cunning serpent secretly slipped onto the horse's hoof and took sixth place. This story reflects his strategic intelligence.

Surrounded by plum blossom, a popular symbol in Chinese history, art, and lanterns, the snake depiction appeals to children. The inscription 'Year of the snake’ and the yeardate appear at the center of the coin. The ideogram of the snake appears below.

On the reverse side, all the animals of the Chinese zodiac are drawn in a cartoon-like way around the Ying and Yang symbol. A complete cycle of the Chinese zodiac will be composed from 2018 to 2029. Each of these twelve years features an animal from this calendar. The face value is visible in the center of the coin as well as the symbol "RF".

Face value: 5 €
Diameter: 34 mm
Weight: 19.1 g
Metal: Brass
Mintage: 45,000

Obverse:
The obverse depicts a male western capercaillie in a heathland environment, together with a female of the species in the lower right of the design. In the background are conifer trees and an upright, splintered tree trunk. The Slovak coat of arms appears on the right side of the design, below the coin’s denomination and currency: ‘5 EURO’. Inscribed along the top edge are the name of the issuing country and the year of issuance: ‘SLOVENSKO 2024’. Next to the right edge is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies.

Reverse:
The reverse is dominated by an image of a male western capercaillie perched on a branch. The Slovak name of the species, ‘HLUCHÁŇ HÔRNY’, is inscribed along the bottom edge of the design, while the scientific name, ‘TETRAO UROGALLUS’, appears along the upper left edge. To the right of the capercaillie is the tip of a pine branch with a cone, next to which are the stylised letters ‘TL’, referring to the coin’s designer Tomáš Lamač.

The western capercaillie is one of the largest bird species in Slovakia. The cock is black except for a bluish-green metallic sheen on the chest and for chestnut-brown wings with a white spot on the bow. The feathers below the beak are elongated and protruding, and above each eye there is a bright red spot of skin. The relatively long black tail feathers have whitish spots and broaden at the end. The hen is plainer, with a chestnut-brown, mottled plumage and a noticeable rust-coloured breast patch. The young are similar in appearance to the hen, though with somewhat less pronounced mottling. In Slovakia, the western capercaillie is found in coniferous and mixed forests at altitudes from 600 to 1,550 metres above sea level. The species thrives in scattered swathes of old, primeval-like mountain forest. The western capercaillie nests on the ground, in a shallow depression lined with dry leaves, twigs, and grass blades or pine needles. Egg-laying occurs in April-May, with the hen typically laying six to nine yellowish-brown speckled eggs. In winter and early spring, the western capercaillie feeds almost entirely on pine needles, shoots and buds, while in the summer its diet extends to various berries and plant leaves, plus an animal component consisting mainly of insects. The western capercaillie is a solitary creature, except when the two sexes come together in the mating season. During courting, the cock postures himself with raised and fanned tail feathers, erect neck, and beak pointed skywards. The western capercaillie is a protected species in Slovakia.

Face value: Samoa 2$
Weight: 31,1 gr
Silver: 99,9%
Diameter: 40 mm
Mintage: 2024

In East Asian Buddhism, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities,

Issuing Country: France
Face value: 5 €
Metal: Copper/Nickel
Diameter: 29 mm
Quality: B.U.
Mintage: 25 000

The wheel of the zodiac signs is engraved on the coin's gold-colored crown. One sign stands out from the rest, as it is larger than the others and has a sandblasted background, different from the smoother one of the others. It is the symbol of Aries. Part of the wheel is hidden by flames, a reminder of the element of the Aries sign, fire. The bust of a ram with majestic horns and a serene air occupies most of the central space on the obverse of the coin. The background features a starry sky in which the Aries constellation is outlined.

Issuing Country: France
Face value: 5 €
Metal: Copper/Nickel
Diameter: 29 mm
Quality: B.U.
Mintage: 25 000

The wheel of the zodiac signs is engraved on the coin's gold-colored crown. One sign stands out from the background because of its larger size and a sandblasted background, different from the smoother one of the others. It is the symbol of Capricorn. Part of the wheel is hidden by crystals, leaves and mushrooms, in reference to the sign's element, earth. A Capricorn, half-goat, half-fish, rears up in the middle of the scene. In the background, there's a starry sky in which the Capricorn constellation is outlined.

Astrology is a discipline that attracts a wide audience thanks to its playful and accessible nature. It touches everyone in an intimate way and creates a sense of belonging by focusing on personality traits. Moreover, its aesthetic symbolism offers rich visual elements that can be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists. Astrological signs appear to be an obvious theme to explore for Monnaie de Paris, which therefore affirms its desire to appeal to as many people as possible, while allowing the talents of its craftsmen to express themselves.

A set contain the 12 €5 bicolor coins.