China 1997 Auspicious Happiness 2 oz Silver Piedfort BU Coin

This 2 ounce silver Brilliant Uncirculated coin is 99.99% pure. While it has the diameter of a 1 ounce silver coin, it has a "double thickness", making it a "piefort" silver coin. The obverse depicts the traditional picture of Auspicious Happiness in Superabundance - a happy little boy embraces a big fish, sitting on a lotus leaf, surrounded by blooming lotus flowers. This image commonly reflects prosperity for the Spring Festival, celebrating a bright coming Chinese New Year. In Chinese, they are called Huabiao, and they are a common feature at most of China's ancient buildings. A stone column rests on a round or octagonal base and has Dragons carved into the column, while at the top a life-size stone Lion keeps watch, as shown on the coin. In ancient times these pillars were constructed to urge the ruling emperor to, at times, leave his palace and go out among the common people so as to better understand them. We have found only a small stash of these impressive 2-oz coins.