Chinese lunar coins

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:

both the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) silver lunar coin and the 5 ozt silver panda coin were debuted,
the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) silver lunar coin was the first of the series to be over 99% pure silver, and
the 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) 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 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g) 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.

More information Year, Animal ...

**1st Lunar Series 1981–1992**
Year	Animal	Silver Coins (mintage)	Gold Coins (mintage)	Platinum Coins (mintage)
1981	Rooster	15 g, 33 mm, 30 CNY (10,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 250 CNY (5,000)
1982	Dog	15 g, 33 mm, 20 CNY (15,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 200 CNY (5,000)
1983	Pig	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (10,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (5,000)
1984	Rat
1985	Ox
1986	Tiger	15 g 33 mm 10 CNY (15,000)
1987	Rabbit	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (4,000)
1988	Dragon	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (20,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70mm, 50 CNY (5,000) 12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (3,000) 12 oz, 1,000 CNY SH (500)	1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (2,000)
1989	Snake	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (6,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (1,000) 12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (400)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (3,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (500) 12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200)	1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)
1990	Horse	15 g, 33 mm, 10CNY (15,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (12,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (2,000) 12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (6,000) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (500) 12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200?)	1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (2,000)
1991	Goat	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (15,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (8,100) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (2,000) 12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,000)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (7,500) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,900) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (400) 12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (200)	1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (500)
1992	Monkey	15 g, 33 mm, 10 CNY (10,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 10 CNY SH (8,100) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 70 mm, 50 CNY (1,000) 12 oz, 80 mm, 100 CNY SH (500)	8 g, 23 mm, 150 CNY (5,000) 1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (1,900) 5 ozt (5.5 oz; 160 g), 60 mm, 500 CNY (99) 12 oz, 70 mm, 1,000 CNY SH (99)	1 ozt (1.1 oz; 31 g), 32 mm, 100 CNY SH (300)

Chinese lunar coins

1981–1992 (1st Lunar Series)

The 2nd Series 1988–1999 for 1 ozt Ag Piedfort

The 3rd Series 1997–2008 for 1 ozt Ag

The 4th Series 2009–2020 for 1 ozt Ag

The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 for 2/3 oz Ag

The 1st Scallop Series 1993–2004 for 1/2 ozt Au

The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 for 1 ozt Ag

The 2nd Scallop Series 2005–2016 for 1/2 ozt Au

The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 for 1 ozt Ag

The 1st Fan Series 2000–2011 for 1/2 ozt Au

The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 for 1/3 ozt Au

The 2nd Fan Series 2012–2024 for 1 ozt Ag

See also

References

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