The Australian/Chinese Lunar Series Gold Investment Potential And Reasons Supporting Long Term Profitability Background and Concept The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February. The Chinese have adopted the Western calendar since 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Many Chinese calendars will print both the solar dates and the Chinese lunar dates. Background Information In the United States, the years are dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, for example, 1977 means 1,977 years after the birth of Christ. This represents a linear perception of time, with time proceeding in a straight line from the past to the present and the future. In traditional China, dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that is repeated time after time according to a pattern. A popular folk method which reflected this cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or "sign" according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Therefore, every twelve years the same animal name or "sign" would reappear. A cultural sidelight of the animal signs in Chinese folklore is that horoscopes have developed around the animal signs, much like monthly horoscopes in the West have been developed for the different moon signs, Pisces, Aries, etc. For example, a Chinese horoscope may predict that a person born in the Year of the Horse would be, "cheerful, popular, and loves to compliment others". These horoscopes are amusing, but not regarded seriously by the Chinese people. The animal signs also serve a useful social function for finding out people’s ages. Instead of asking directly how old a person is, people often ask what is his or her animal sign. This would place that person’s age within a cycle of 12 years, and with a bit of common sense, we can deduce the exact age. More often, though, people ask for animal signs not to compute a person’s exact numerical age, but to simply know who is older among friends and acquaintances. Legend According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish. All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last. Zodiac Chart: The rotating cycle of twelve animal signs was a folk method for naming the years in traditional China. The animal signs for one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years. 1976 was the Year of the Dragon, and 1977 was the year of the Snake. Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco We at California Numismatic Investments believe this unique series offers a number of compelling reasons for ownership. It is certainly an alternative to run of the mill bullion coins or bars, and as such should be part of every bullion position. 1. The limited production, relative to ordinary bullion coins, makes these pure gold coins popular. Each series is limited, a small number are mint in the wider world of bullion production. Collector interest has already pushed prices higher on The Dragon and The Horse. The rest of the series can be acquired for small premium. We are not suggesting these bullion coins are rare coins. The Lunar Series will move directly with the price of bullion, but for the price of bullion you get something extra. You are getting in on the ground floor without paying much for the extra bang. 2. With a few exceptions most of these coins trade for a very small premium over their melt value, thus making them a viable bullion alternative. These bullion gold coins offer more potential at surprisingly little additional cost. Each coin is produced by the world famous Perth Mint in Australia and the quality is superb. The coin is a production strike with a high contrast, cameo surface and comes in a custom, hard plastic container. 3. The series has a “built-in” collector and investor base which grows each year and could become explosive. In a recent Wall Street report experts believe that more than 40% of all manufactured goods will be produced in China within the next decade. This explosion in growth simply increases gold demand from a culture that already appreciates and covets gold coins. 4. The pictures change each year like the Panda series but with a fresh perspective. This added feature could produce a wave of collector interest producing an investment dynamic independent of the coin's bullion value. 5. To figure our selling prices add the noted small premium to our posted Spot price, call to confirm current Spot price and availability. Orders of $2000 or more are shipped insured US mail at no extra charge and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. You can call toll-free (1-800-225-7531) for further information or e-mail kenslater@golddealer.com for a quick answer to your questions. Thanks for reading and enjoy this intriguing and historic set of bullion gold coins. |
