CNI Homepage

banner

 

Investment RulesBullion ChartsRare Coin NewsCertified Gold

 

Bullion Coin Prices

Quote Line/Specials

Ordering Bullion

Bullion Charts

Investment Rules

$20 Saint-Gaudens Special Report

Better Date $20 Liberty Gold

8 Piece Gold Set Report

Certified Gold & Silver

Silver Dollar Report

Walking Liberty Half Dollars

Australian Lunar Series

Rare Coin News

E-mail Specials

Free Audio Tape

Services

Secured Storage

Why Own Gold?

Owners of CNI

References

Testimonials

Investing Guide

 

The 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
750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94100
Email
info@c-c-c-.org

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 Eagle Price and call to confirm 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 for further information or email info@golddealer.com for a quick answer to your questions. Thanks for reading and enjoy this intriguing and historic set of bullion gold coins.

$2000 Order - Free Shipping - Gem Condition

All Coins Contain 1 Troy Oz Of Pure Gold

1996 Rat:

Total Minted: 16,593

Price: $20 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

1996 Rat

1997 Ox

Total Minted: 13,709

Price: $40 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

1997 Ox

1998 Tiger

Total Minted: 16,907

Price: $20 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

1998 Tiger

1999 Rabbit

Total Minted: 18,261

Price: Same price as U.S. Gold Eagle.

1999 Rabbit

2000 Dragon

Total Minted: 30,000

 

Price: $1900

2000 Dragon

2001 Snake

Total Minted: 30,000

Price: $40 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

2001 Snake

2002 Horse

Total Minted: 30,000

Price: $80 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

2002 Horse

2003 Goat

Total Minted: 16,775

Price: $30 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

2003 Goat

2004 Monkey

Total Minted: 16,868

Price: Same price as U.S. Gold Eagle.

2004 Monkey

2005 Rooster

Total Minted: 19,729

Price: Same price as U.S. Gold Eagle.

2005 Rooster

2006 Dog

Total Minted: 26,334

Price: $20 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

2006 Dog

2007 Pig

Total Minted: 18,149

Price: $20 more than our U.S. Gold Eagle.

2007 Pig

 

The Lunar Series Obverse or Front

Lunar coins from 1996-1998 (Rat, Ox, Tiger) use this earlier version of Queen Elizabeth II on the front of the coin.

Lunar Obverse 1996-1998.jpg

Lunar coins beginning in 1999 (Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster) use this later version of the Queen.

Lunar Obverse 1999-.jpg

 


California Numismatic Investments
Dealers in Quality PCGS Rare Coins And Precious Metals
525 West Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA. 90301-1627
1-800-225-7531   •   Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM (PST)
24-Hour Toll Free Recording 1-888-443-4653
Store Hours: 9:00 AM To 5:00 PM PST Monday - Friday
We reserve the right to correct printing errors.
Email:
info@golddealer.com