Lunar Series (British coin) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Year of the Sheep (Gold)

United Kingdom
Value	100 pounds sterling
Mass	31.103 g
Diameter	38.61 mm
Thickness	2.7 mm
Edge	Milled
Composition	.9999 fine gold
Years of minting	2016
Obverse
Design	Queen Elizabeth II
Designer	Jody Clark
Reverse
Design	Sheep
Designer	Wuon-Gean Ho
Design date	2016

The Lunar or Shēngxiào (生肖) coin series is a special collection of British coins made by the Royal Mint. These coins celebrate Chinese New Year by showing animals from the Chinese zodiac. The series began in 2014. These coins are made in different amounts of silver and gold. They come as both bullion (coins made for their metal value) and proof (special, high-quality collector coins).

Lunar Coin Series: Celebrating the Chinese Zodiac

Year of the Horse (2014)

The first coin in the series was for the Year of the Horse in 2014. The back of the coin shows a galloping horse. Behind it, you can see the famous pre-historic Uffington White Horse from Oxfordshire. The coin also says "YEAR OF THE HORSE · 2014". It also lists how much the coin weighs and what metal it's made of. The Chinese character for horse (馬) is in the middle of the coin.

Horse Coin Mistake

In March 2014, some of the 1-ounce horse coins were made with the wrong design on the front. About 38,000 of these horse coins accidentally got the front design meant for the Britannia coin series. Also, 17,000 Britannia coins were made with the Lunar series front design.

Year of the Sheep (2015)

The 2015 coin celebrates the Year of the Sheep. The back of this coin shows two Yorkshire Swaledale sheep looking at each other. In the background, there's a forest of trees. The designer, Wuon-Gean Ho, explained that the old Chinese character for sheep looks a bit like a tree. So, the forest is actually made up of many of these characters (羊). This character is also shown clearly in the coin's center. The top of the coin reads "YEAR OF THE SHEEP · 2015" and includes details about its weight and metal.

Year of the Monkey (2016)

The 2016 coin features the Monkey. The back of the coin shows a Rhesus monkey leaping forward from a tree. Another monkey is also jumping in the background. The coin says "YEAR OF THE MONKEY· 2016" along with its weight and metal type. The Chinese character for monkey (猴) is placed in the lower right part of the coin.

Year of the Rooster (2017)

For 2017, the coin shows a crowing rooster. It stands among ten sea thrift flowers. The number ten is a symbol of perfection in Chinese culture. The coin reads "YEAR OF THE ROOSTER · 2017". It also has information about the coin's weight and metal. The Chinese character for rooster (雞) is near the center. This coin's front design is different from earlier coins in the series. It looks more like the Britannia coin series.

Year of the Dog (2018)

The 2018 coin features a happy, jumping dog. The designer, Wuon-Gean Ho, said this dog is a mix of a West-Highland White Terrier and a Jack Russell. It looks like it's smiling and leaping over waves. The background has a hidden story. It's actually a nose print from another dog. A dog's nose print is unique, like a human fingerprint. So, the background is a portrait of another animal the dog might be playing with. The Chinese character for dog (狗) is near the coin's center.

Year of the Pig (2019)

The 2019 coin celebrates the Year of the Pig. The design by Harry Brockway shows a female pig (called a sow) feeding five piglets. This design shows the traits and traditions of the lunar calendar. Brockway also included an English cottage in the background. Each coin has the traditional Chinese symbol for ‘pig’ (豬) below the sow's head.

Year of the Rat (2020)

The rat coin was the seventh design in the series. Illustrator P. J. Lynch designed it. He wanted to show a rat twisting, reacting to a sound nearby. The rat looks curious and brave. Lynch also enjoyed designing the rat’s long, curvy tail. It weaves through flowers, which are peonies. Peonies are popular in China and mean good luck. The Chinese character for rat (鼠) is near the coin's center.

Year of the Ox (2021)

Harry Brockway designed the 2021 Ox coin. He wanted it to feel Eastern but with a "British twist." His design was inspired by old British paintings of cattle. He placed the ox in an English countryside. The design includes blossom trees and ploughs. Harry focused on showing the ox clearly, with fewer distractions. The Chinese character for Ox (牛) is near the coin's center.

Year of the Tiger (2022)

The 2022 coin features the Tiger. David Lawrence's design on the back shows a tiger facing forward. It also includes the Chinese character for "tiger" (虎).

Year of the Rabbit (2023)

The 2023 coin shows the Rabbit. This was the last coin in the series to feature Queen Elizabeth II. She passed away in September 2022. The design by Louie Maryon shows a rabbit and falling oak leaves. It also has the Chinese character for "rabbit" (兔).

Year of the Dragon (2024)

The 2024 coin features the Dragon. This is the first coin in the series to show King Charles III. He became king in September 2022. The design by W.W. shows a Chinese dragon flying over a forest. It also has the Traditional Chinese character for "dragon" (龍).

Year of the Snake (2025)

The 2025 coin will feature the Snake. This coin will complete the full 12-sign cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Coin Values

The Lunar coins come in different values depending on their size and metal.

See also

• List of British banknotes and coins
• Coins of the pound sterling
• Royal Mint
• The Queen's Beasts (coin)
• Gold as an investment
• Silver as an investment