Monday, December 2, 2013

First UK Chinese Lunar Coins

Royal Mint has released "First Ever UK Chinese Lunar Coins" with design by Wuon-Gean Ho, a British Chinese artist with a Malaysian and Singapore parentage. The Shēngxiào Collection, named to honour the Chinese zodiac is the perfect way to wish good luck and fortune to its recipients, and the first coin available in the new series will celebrate the forthcoming Lunar Year of the Horse.

Horse 2014

Designer of the first coin in the series, Wuon-Gean Ho says, “I wanted the design to draw upon my British and Chinese heritage, as my parents are from Malaysia and Singapore and I was raised in the UK. Although I am involved in the arts now, studying anatomy and closely observing animals for my degree in Veterinary Medicine was good training for this project. The Uffington Horse is part of Britain’s history as well as mine, as I grew up in Oxfordshire close to this famous chalk monument.”

Wuon-Gean Ho was born in the UK, she works in many disciplines including printmaking, animation, performance and artist’s books. This is the first design Wuon-Gean Ho has produced for The Royal Mint.

The striking new coin combines elements from both British and Chinese heritage. In the foreground of the design there is a powerful leaping horse, bringing to life the active characteristics of those born in the Year of the Horse – gregarious, charming, lively and strong. Beneath the horse’s feet lies the famous Uffington Horse, a pre-historic white horse carved into the chalk hills of Oxfordshire.

The new design will feature on a number of different coins, made from either 999.9 fine gold or in 999 fine silver. The range includes a Tenth-ounce Gold Brilliant Uncirculated Coin, a One Ounce Gold Proof Coin and a One Ounce Gold Bullion coin. In silver, there is the One Ounce Silver Proof Coin, a Five Ounce Silver Proof Coin and a One Ounce Silver Bullion Coin.

All the Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof coins are limited editions with each issue including the lucky number eight. Prices range from £82.50 for the Silver One Ounce Proof Coin through to £1,950 for the One Ounce Gold Proof Coin.

The first design in The Shēngxiào Collection is available to pre-order now from www.royalmint.com or for enquiries about Lunar bullion coins, please contact bullionsales@royalmint.com or telephone 01443 235901.