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.
Contents
- 19811992 1st Lunar Series
- The 2nd Series 19881999 1 oz Silver Piedfort
- The 3rd Series 19972008 1 oz Silver
- The 4th Series 20092020 1 oz Silver
- The 1st Scallop Series 19932004 oz Silver
- The 1st Scallop Series 19932004 oz Gold
- The 2nd Scallop Series 20052016 1 oz Silver
- The 2nd Scallop Series 20052016 oz Gold
- The 1st Fan Series 20002011 1 oz Silver
- The 1st Fan Series 20002011 oz Gold
- The 2nd Fan Series 20122024 oz Gold
- The 2nd Fan Series 20122024 1 oz Silver
- References
Here is a chart showing date, mintage, and sizes of all Chinese lunar coins minted since 1982.
1981–1992 (1st Lunar Series)
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: (1) both the 5 oz. silver lunar coin and the 5 oz. silver panda coin were debuted, (2) the 5 oz. silver lunar coin was the first of the series to be over 99% pure silver, and (3) the 5 oz. 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 5oz 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.
The 2nd Series 1988–1999 1 oz Silver Piedfort
These were minted as 1oz silver but were 32mm in diameter instead of standard 40mm. This increased the thickness in the style of a piedfort coin.
The 3rd Series 1997–2008 1 oz Silver
The 4th Series 2009–2020 1 oz Silver
The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 ⅔ oz Silver
Mintage: 6800 each
The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 ½ oz Gold
Mintage: 2300 each
The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 1 oz Silver
Mintage: 60000 each
The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 ½ oz Gold
Mintage: 8000 each
The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 1 oz Silver
Mintage: 66000 each
The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 ½ oz Gold
Mintage: 6600 each
The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 ⅓ oz Gold
to be continued
The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 1 oz Silver
to be continued