Mirror Snake. Lunar Year of the Snake 2025. Tokelau 5$ 2025 99,9% silver coin. 1 oz

Monetary Denom: NZD 5.00
Dimensions: 65m
Standard Weight: 31.1g
Silver: 99.9%
Year Dated: 2025
Max Mintage: 500
Country of Issue: Tokelau

The Year of the Snake will commence on 29 January 2025. In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth and each element appears in a 60 year cycle. 2025 represents the year of the Fire Snake. It is said people born in this year are intuitive, strategic and ingelligent, exuding charm, elegance and wisdom.
This astounding 65mm 1oz pure silver coin features a dynamic image of a snake in mirror image. The coin is created in proof condition by BH Mayer Mint, with the Snake on one side sculpted proof with a highly polished proof table, the other side with a frosted table and polished Snake. As with each of the previous issues, only 500 coins will be released.
These will be the second coin in this series to feature the effigy of King Charles III.

According to one legend, there is a reason for the order of the animals in the cycle. A race was held to cross a great river, and the order of the animals in the cycle was based upon their order in finishing the race. In this story, the snake compensated for not being the best swimmer by hitching a hidden ride on the Horse's hoof. When the horse was about to cross the finish line, the snake jumped out, scaring the horse, and thus edging it out for sixth place. The same twelve animals are also used to symbolize the cycle of hours in the day, each being associated with a two-hour time period. The hour of the snake is 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., the time when the Sun warms up the Earth, and snakes are said to slither out of their holes. The month of the snake is the 4th month of the Chinese lunar calendar and it usually falls within the months of May through June depending on the Chinese to Gregorian calendar conversion. The reason the animal signs are referred to as zodiacal is that one's personality is said to be influenced by the animal signs ruling the time of birth, together with elemental aspects of the animal signs within the sexagenary cycle. Similarly, the year governed by a particular animal sign is supposed to be characterized by it, with the effects particularly strong for people who were born in any year governed by the same animal sign.