The Rare Birds of Taiwan – The Mikado Pheasant Colored Silver Medal

99.9% Pure Silver

38 mm

1 oz.

3,000 pieces

The Mikado Pheasant is endemic to Taiwan. The body of the male bird is dark purple-blue with metallic highlights and the long tail feathers have distinct horizontal white bands. They are physically the largest of Taiwan's endemic bird species, and range between the mid- to high-altitude mountainous regions. They have been listed as among the world's “near-threatened” birds. This image features the Mikado Pheasant as photographed by Mr. Alan Huang.

A“ru-yi”is a traditional Chinese art object, a talismanic wand usually manufactured from precious or semi-precious materials such as jade, chalcedony, carnelian, etc. that has the power to grant wishes. In ancient times, it was given as a gift from emperors and empresses to nobles and ministers. In later times, it was a precious gift mutually presented by wealthy families to express the wish that all things be as desired. In the image, the two persimmons “shr-shr” mean“everything,” and the magic wand“ru-yi”means“as desired,” by virtue of being homophones, and they constitute a rebus reading:“May Everything Be As Desired.”