Proof Silver Coin for the Year of the Snake

999 silver, with dragon gilded in 999.9 gold

38 millimeters

1 ounce

2 Dollars (Tuvalu Currency)

50,000 pieces

Pomegranates from a painting by Ko-chi Chang symbolize the hope that, as we move into a new year, good times are on the way. The bright hues of the fruit, applied to the silver proof obverse through an inkjet printing technique, accentuate the graded relief of the coin's surface while imparting a ripe richness. Above these elements appears a portrait of King Charles III, who heads the British Commonwealth.

The main theme of the coin is the "golden snake of good fortune," the design of which is based on the gold-colored Maki's keelback snake, a category I protected species that is endemic to Taiwan. Because it is small, non-venomous, and non-aggressive, very few continue surviving in the wild, so it is regarded as extremely precious. The gold gilded Maki's keelback reflects brilliant rays off its writhing serpentine body, while flowers in fresh bloom bespeak the confident joy born of beauty, vigor, and prosperity, and promise more of the same lying ahead in the future. This gorgeous coin thus represents a prayer for peace and good fortune in the Year of the Snake. The gold gilded snake contrasts starkly with the brilliant silver proof surface of the surrounding face of the coin, thus highlighting all the more clearly the raised relief design and the scintillating quality of the craftsmanship.

The Bank of Taiwan has entrusted the Central Mint to make a "Proof Silver Coin for the Year of the Snake." A gold gilded Maki's keelback snake appears on the reverse side, while pomegranates grace the obverse side and clearly show the superb craftsmanship of the team that fashioned this limited-issue coin.