Chinese lunar coins

Overview of coin production

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Chinese lunar coins" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

In 1981, China began minting coins to commemorate the Chinese New Year. The Chinese lunar series consist of gold, silver and platinum coins, in a variety of sizes, denominations and shapes. The reverse of each coin depicts the zodiac animal for the corresponding year of issue, while the obverse features an historical building or other notable cultural image.

## 1981–1992 (1st Lunar Series)

[edit]

The size, mintage, metal content and even face value changed, throughout the first series. This is a reflection of China's gradual adoption of the ounce over the metric gram in line with international bullion standards and China's improving economic conditions and technological advances.

From 1981 to 1987, the obverse and reverse of the 8 g gold coin were the same as that of the 15 g silver coin. The exception being in 1985, when the reverse differed. 1987 seems to be special:

* both the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) silver lunar coin and the 5 ozt silver panda coin were debuted,
* the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) silver lunar coin was the first of the series to be over 99% pure silver, and
* the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) silver coin had a face value of 50 yuan, even though it contained over 10 times as much silver as the 15 g silver coin, which had a face value of 10 yuan.

In 1988, the first platinum lunar coin was introduced and the number of different lunar coins exploded when the Shanghai Mint began minting a different set of lunar coins. In total, there were 4 different designs: the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) coins featured triple dragons and the 15 g and 8 g coins each featured a different dragon; the Shanghai Mint coins featured double dragon reverses.

All coins minted by the Shenyang mint, unless noted with an "SH", which indicates that it was minted by the Shanghai mint. The size, mintage and face values are listed to illustrate the numerous changing standards in the first lunar series.

1st Lunar Series 1981–1992 Year  | Animal  | Silver Coins (mintage)  | Gold Coins (mintage)  | Platinum Coins (mintage)

|
|
|
|

1981 | Rooster | 15 g, 33 mm, 30 CNY (10,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 250 CNY (5,000)  |
1982 | Dog | 15 g, 33 mm, 20 CNY (15,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 200 CNY (5,000)  |
1983 | Pig | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (10,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (5,000)  |
1984 | Rat |
1985 | Ox |
1986 | Tiger | 15 g 33 mm 10 CNY (15,000)  |
1987 | Rabbit | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (4,000)  |
1988 | Dragon | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (20,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70mm, 50 CNY (5,000)
12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (3,000)
12 oz, 1,000 CNY SH (500)  | 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (2,000)
1989 | Snake | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (6,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (1,000)
12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (400)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (500)
12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200)  | 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)
1990 | Horse | 15 g, 33 mm, 10CNY (15,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (12,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (2,000)
12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (6,000)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (500)
12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200?)  | 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (2,000)
1991 | Goat | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (8,100)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (2,000)
12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,900)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (400)
12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200)  | 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (500)
1992 | Monkey | 15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (10,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (8,100)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (1,000)
12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (500)  | 8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (5,000)
1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,900)
5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (99)
12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (99)  | 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (300)

## The 2nd Series 1988–1999 for 1 ozt Ag Piedfort

[edit]

These were minted as 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g) silver, but were 32 mm in diameter, instead of the standard 40 mm. This increased the thickness in the style of a piedfort coin.

* 1988 Dragon Mintage: 20,000
* 1989 Snake
* 1990 Horse
* 1991 Goat
* 1992 Monkey
* 1993 Rooster Mintage: 9,000
* 1994 Dog
* 1995 Pig
* 1996 Rat
* 1997 Ox Mintage: 8,000
* 1998 Tiger Mintage: 8,000
* 1999 Rabbit

## The 3rd Series 1997–2008 for 1 ozt Ag

[edit]

* 1997 Ox
* 1998 Tiger
* 1999 Rabbit
* 2000 Dragon
* 2001 Snake
* 2002 Horse
* 2003 Goat
* 2004 Monkey
* 2005 Rooster
* 2006 Dog
* 2007 Pig
* 2008 Rat

## The 4th Series 2009–2020 for 1 ozt Ag

[edit]

* 2009 Ox
* 2010 Tiger
* 2011 Rabbit
* 2012 Dragon
* 2013 Snake
* 2014 Horse
* 2015 Goat
* 2016 Monkey
* 2017 Rooster

## The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 for 2/3 oz Ag

[edit]

Mintage: 6,800 each

* 1993 Rooster
* 1994 Dog
* 1995 Pig
* 1996 Rat
* 1997 Ox
* 1998 Tiger
* 1999 Rabbit
* 2000 Dragon
* 2001 Snake
* 2002 Horse
* 2003 Goat
* 2004 Monkey

## The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 for 1/2 ozt Au

[edit]

Mintage: 2,300 each

* 1993 Rooster
* 1994 Dog
* 1995 Pig
* 1996 Rat
* 1997 Ox
* 1998 Tiger
* 1999 Rabbit
* 2000 Dragon
* 2001 Snake
* 2002 Horse
* 2003 Goat
* 2004 Monkey

## The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 for 1 ozt Ag

[edit]

Mintage: 60,000 each

* 2005 Rooster
* 2006 Dog
* 2007 Pig
* 2008 Rat
* 2009 Ox
* 2010 Tiger
* 2011 Rabbit
* 2012 Dragon
* 2013 Snake
* 2014 Horse
* 2015 Goat
* 2016 Monkey

## The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 for 1/2 ozt Au

[edit]

Mintage: 8,000 each

* 2005 Rooster
* 2006 Dog
* 2007 Pig
* 2008 Rat
* 2009 Ox
* 2010 Tiger
* 2011 Rabbit
* 2012 Dragon
* 2013 Snake
* 2014 Horse
* 2015 Goat
* 2016 Monkey

## The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 for 1 ozt Ag

[edit]

Mintage: 66,000 each

* 2000 Dragon
* 2001 Snake
* 2002 Horse
* 2003 Goat
* 2004 Monkey
* 2005 Rooster
* 2006 Dog
* 2007 Pig
* 2008 Rat
* 2009 Ox
* 2010 Tiger
* 2011 Rabbit

## The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 for 1/2 ozt Au

[edit]

Mintage: 6,600 each

* 2000 Dragon
* 2001 Snake
* 2002 Horse
* 2003 Goat
* 2004 Monkey
* 2005 Rooster
* 2006 Dog
* 2007 Pig
* 2008 Rat
* 2009 Ox
* 2010 Tiger
* 2011 Rabbit

## The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 for 1/3 ozt Au

[edit]

* 2012 Dragon
* 2013 Snake
* 2014 Horse
* 2015 Goat

## The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 for 1 ozt Ag

[edit]

* 2012 Dragon
* 2013 Snake
* 2014 Horse
* 2015 Goat

## See also

[edit]

* Lunar Series (British coin)

## References

[edit]

* "面值"一元"卖百元？当心，这类龙年纪念钞买不得-新华网" [The face value of "one yuan" is sold for 100 yuan? Be careful, you cannot buy this kind of Year of the Dragon commemorative banknotes]. Economic Information Daily (in Chinese). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-03-04 - via www.news.cn.
* 郁祥桢 (1995). 钱币丛谈 [Coin Talk] (in Chinese). 上海古籍出版社. ISBN 978-7-5325-1852-4.
* "【纪念币面面观】纪念币上的中国龙_中国银行保险报网" [(Aspects of the commemorative coin) The Chinese dragon on the commemorative coin]. China Banking and Insurance News (in Chinese). 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-03-04 - via www.cbimc.cn.

[1]

1. ^ "New 2015 Lunar Coins Now Available Celebrating the "Year of the Goat"".

* v
* t
* e

Currencies of China

Overview|

* History of Chinese currency
* List of Chinese cash coins by inscription
* Ancient Chinese coinage

By period (before 1912)|

* Zhou dynasty coinage
* Han dynasty coinage
* Xin dynasty coinage
* Southern Tang coinage
* Liao dynasty coinage
* Da Shu coinage
* Southern Song dynasty coinage
* Western Xia coinage
* Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)
* Da Qi coinage
* Yuan dynasty coinage
* Ming dynasty coinage
* Qing dynasty coinage
* Paper money of the Qing dynasty
* Shengbao

Other territories|

* Historical money of Tibet
* Kucha coinage
* Manchukuo yuan
* Mengjiang yuan
* Xinjiang coins
* Hongqian
* Yuan of the Red Army Command

Ancient|

* Cowrie shell
* Tong Bei
* Ant-nose coin
* Knife money
* Ying Yuan
* Spade money

Imperial|

* Cash coins
* Strings
* Ban Liang
* Wu Zhu
* Kaiyuan Tongbao
* Sycee
* Flying cash
* Jiaozi
* Guanzi
* Huizi
* Jiaochao
* Great Ming Treasure Note
* Great Qing Treasure Note
* Hubu Guanpiao
* Silver Dragon

Manufacturing and casting process|

* Mother coin
* Ancestor coin

Near modern|

* Cash (wén)
* Candareen (fēn)
* Mace (qián)
* Tael (liǎng)
* Yuan

Historical exonumia|

* Charms and amulets (Yansheng)
* Horse coin
* Vault protector coin
* Zhaona Xinbao
* Bamboo tally
* Token

Republic of China|

* Customs gold unit
* Fabi
* Old Taiwan dollar
* Chinese gold yuan
* Silver dollar
* New Taiwan dollar (5th)

Renminbi series|

* 1st
* 2nd
* 3rd
* 4th
* 5th
* Digital

Special administrative regions|

* Hong Kong dollar
* Macanese pataca

* See also: Economy of China

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template