Lunar Series (British coin)
lunar shēngxiào 生肖 coin series collection british coin issued royal mint featuring chinese zodiac celebration chinese new year first issued series minted varying denomination silver gold bullion proof reverse design consists galloping horse set background prehistoric uffington white horse located oxfordshire lettering coin read year horse · plus detail mass metal content coin chinese character horse 馬 displayed near coin centre mule version march reported number oz bullion coin mistakenly struck incorrect die around lunar horse coin struck obverse intended britannia series britannia coin stuck obverse lunar series reverse design consists two yorkshire swaledale sheep facing background consists forest treesb designer wuongean ho explains ancient chinese character word sheep look little bit like tree forest consists series character 羊 character displayed near coin center across top lettering read year sheep · plus detail mass metal content coin reverse design feature leaping rhesus monkey jumping forward tree another monkey also jumping background lettering coin read year monkey· plus detail mass metal content coin chinese character monkey 猴 displayed lower right coin reverse design feature crowing rooster amongst ten sea thrift flower number ten symbolising perfection chinese culture lettering coin read year rooster · plus detail mass metal content coin chinese character rooster 雞 displayed near coin centre unlike previous coin series coin break otherwise uniform smooth obverse design opting obverse similar britannia coin series wuongean explains royal mint site reverse design picture happy bounding dog jumping joy dog mix westhighland white terrier jack russell – it’s really wirey really energetic also look like he’s smiling mouth slightly open seems like he’s leaping across wave reality background hidden story like put hidden motif coin background actually created nose pattern another dog nose print unique every dog nose print portrait another animal dog potentially playing – it’s story dog landscape landscape expect signature foreground landscape it’s look like little shell beach – it’s motif say “wuongean” old character front coin reverse design feature chinese character 狗 displayed near coin center reverse design royal mint shēngxiào collection coin celebrates year pig design harry brockway represents trait cultural tradition behind lunar calendar show female pig sow suckling five piglet brockway includes english cottage background coin feature traditional chinese symbol ‘pig’ appears sow head 豬 rat seventh design shēngxiào collection coin designed illustrator pj lynch design obviously feature rat appealing interesting lynch claim show rat twist responding noise something happening nearby rat momentarily vulnerable also curious unafraid lynch add “as well twisting body able fun rat’s long curvy tail weave way around composition flower chose peony popularity china association good luck arch text frame upper hemisphere design element chinese character ‘rat’ placed trailing stroke echo shape rat’s face jaw wanted look like continental plate globe might belong together” chinese character rat 鼠 displayed near coin centre harry brockway royal mint site quoted saying “it important give eastern feel design yet ‘british twist design inspired eighteenthcentury british painting prize cattle place ox english landscape” harrys design contains variety element including blossom tree plough claim explores concept minimalist setting strong focus creature design emphasis ‘less more’ stripping back distraction placing ox centre stage harry belief final design managed portray ox purest form chinese character ox 牛 displayed near coin centre coin feature tiger david lawrence reverse design depicts tiger facing front chinese character tiger 虎 coin feature rabbit last series depict queen elizabeth ii died september reverse design louie maryon show rabbit falling oak leaf well chinese character rabbit 兔 coin feature dragon first series depict king charles iii acceded throne september reverse design william webb show chinese dragon flying forest well traditional chinese character dragon 龍 coin feature snake complete sign cycle chinese zodiac list british banknote coin coin pound sterling royal mint queen beast coin gold investment silver investment coin mass metal content displayed bullion coin b feature appears proof coin