For 2005, the Australian Lunar Silver Coin celebrates the Chinese Year of the Rooster and is the seventh release in a 12-year series that began in 1999. In an unusual development, the first 2,800 Rooster coins released in 2005 had an unusual matte finish instead of a frosted finish. The small group of mattefinish coins represents only 6% of the total 2005 mintage and just 0.8% of the entire lunar series to date. These Perth Mint issues are among the highest-quality silver coins in the world, and are secure Australian legal tender. Each coin has been struck in a full Troy ounce of .999 pure silver gilded with 24-karat gold.