The Guardian of the West, on a Samoan Silver Coin
The 2023 Four Guardians White Tiger is a 1 troy ounce silver coin from Samoa, struck in .999 fine silver with a $2 face value. Its reverse shows a tiger crouched over a compass rose, under the words White Tiger Of The West-Autumn. The mintage is 10,000.
A Tiger Coming Down the Coin
The tiger enters from the upper right and works its way down the field toward you. Its hind legs grip the top of the design, its forepaws reach the lower left, and its long striped tail curls down the right side. The jaws are open. Its fangs are bared, and its whiskers sweep back. Below it, a compass rose marked N, S, E, and W sits among swirling clouds, and the inscription runs along the bottom rim.
Why West and Autumn
The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of Chinese astronomy, the creatures that stand for the four directions of the sky. The Azure Dragon holds the East, the Vermilion Bird the South, and the Black Tortoise the North. The tiger holds the West, and it is also tied to autumn and to metal among the five elements. Each of the four presides over seven of the twenty-eight lunar mansions, the star groups the Moon passes through in a month.
The Queen’s Side
The obverse carries a crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose IRB initials sit beneath the neckline. SAMOA 2023 arcs above her. Below are 1 oz Ag 999, 2 DOLLARS, and Samoa’s coat of arms at the base.
Bare Silver, Deep Relief
There is no color on this coin, so the design depends entirely on the strike. The tiger’s fur, claws, and stripes stand in raised relief, and the clouds and compass below are kept low and flat so the animal stands out above them. Those raised areas are also where handling marks show first, so hold the coin by its edge.
2023 White Tiger Specifications
This coin contains 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver. It has a $2 face value and a reeded edge. The mintage is 10,000, and the portrait is by Ian Rank-Broadley. Full details are on the Specifications tab above.
2023 White Tiger FAQ
What do the words on the reverse mean?
White Tiger Of The West-Autumn names the tiger’s place among the Four Symbols. It guards the West, and its season is autumn.
Who is on the other side?
Queen Elizabeth II, in a crowned portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. His IRB initials are just below her neck.
What is the face value?
The coin is marked 2 DOLLARS. Its value to a buyer comes from the silver, not the face value.
How much silver does it hold?
One troy ounce of .999 fine silver.
Looking for more designs from around the world? Browse our World Silver Coins.
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gina.y (verified owner) –
This coin is even better looking in hand!! Better than I imagined! Very pleased.