Hi! Most of you know my main coin collecting ambition is to own all the silver coins dated 1935 (my birthyear) produced by every country of the world including the United States of America. Since September 2008 I added 1935 U.S.A. Silver Certificates to my quest. I realize that 1935 is not a date on our paper currency (it is the series number). However, this got me to thinking, "What if?" trying to discover other possible coin collecting venue. The Chinese Zodiac popped into my mind. "What if" someone decided to collect coins bearing their Chinese Zodiac animal? Do you? Let me point out that the Animals of the Chinese Zodiac cover 12 years and each animal sign encompasses an entire year. Now here is where it gets a little tricky: The Chinese zodiac year and the Western Gregorian year do not align. You already know the Chinese New Year celebration does not take place at midnight on Decermber 31. The Chinese zodiac year begins in one Gregorian year and ends in the following Gregorian year. Many people born in November or December of any given year share the same Chinese Zodiac sign with the people born during January through October (maybe November) of the following year. Following is a list of the Chinese Zodiac animals and their relationship to the Gregorian months: RAT : Jan.31,1900 to Feb.19,1901 Feb.18,1912 to Feb.06,1913 Feb.05,1924 to Jan.24,1925 Jan.24,1936 to Feb.10,1937 Feb.10,1948 to Feb.14,1949 Jan.28,1960 to Feb.14,1961 Jan.16,1972 to Feb.02,1973 Feb.02,1984 to Feb.19,1985 OX: Feb.19,1901 to Feb.07,1902 Feb.06,1913 to Jan.25,1914 Jan.25,1925 to Feb.12,1926 Feb.11,1937 to Jan.30,1938 Jan.29,1949 to Feb.16,1950 Feb.15,1961 to Feb.04,1962 Feb.03,1973 to Jan.22,1974 Feb.20,1985 to Feb.08,1986 TIGER: Feb.08,1902 to Jan.28,1903 Jan.26,1914 to Feb.13,1915 Feb.13,1926 to Feb.01,1927 Jan.31,1938 to Feb.18,1939 Feb.17,1950 to Feb.05,1951 Feb.05,1962 to Jan.24,1963 Jan.23,1974 to Feb.10,1975 Jan.09,1986 to Jan.28,1987 HARE or RABBIT: Jan.29,1903 to Feb.15,1904 Feb.14,1915 to Feb.16,1916 Feb.02,1927 to Jan.22,1928 Feb.19,1939 to Feb.07,1940 Feb.06,1951 to Jan.26,1952 Jan.25,1963 to Feb.12,1964 Feb.11,1975 to Jan.30,1976 Jan.29,1987 to Feb.16,1988 DRAGON: Feb.16,1904 to Feb.03,1905 Feb.03,1916 to Jan.22,1917 Jan.23,1928 to Feb.09,1929 Feb.08,1940 to Jan.26,1941 Jan.27,1952 to Feb.13,1953 Feb.13,1964 to Feb.01,1965 Jan.31,1976 to Feb.17,1977 Feb.17,1988 to Feb.05,1989 SNAKE: Feb.04,1905 to Jan.24,1906 Jan.23,1917 to Feb.10,1918 Feb.10,1929 to Jan.29,1930 Jan.27,1941 to Feb.14,1942 Feb.14,1953 to Feb.02,1954 Feb.02,1965 to Jan.20,1966 Feb.18,1977 to Feb.06,1978 Feb.06,1989 to Jan.26,1990 HORSE : Jan.25,1906 to Feb.12,1907 Feb.11,1918 to Jan.31,1919 Jan.30,1930 to Feb.16,1931 Jan.15,1942 to Feb.04 1943 Feb.03,1954 to Jan.23,1955 Jan.21,1966 to Feb.08,1967 Feb.07,1978 to Jan.27,1979 Jan.27,1990 to Feb.14,1991 SHEEP OR GOAT: Feb.13,1907 to Feb.01,1908 Feb.01,1919 to Feb.19,1920 Feb.17,1931 to Feb.05,1932 Jan.05,1943 to Jan.24,1944 Jan.24,1955 to Feb.11,1956 Feb.09,1967 to Jan.28,1968 Jan.28,1979 to Feb.15,1980 Feb.15,1991 to Feb.03,1992 MONKEY: Feb.02,1908 to Jan.21,1909 Feb.20,1920 to Feb.07,1921 Feb.06,1932 to Jan.25,1933 Jan.25,1944 to Feb.12,1945 Feb.12,1956 to Jan.30,1957 Jan.30,1968 to Feb.16,1969 Feb.16,1980 to Feb.04,1981 Feb.04,1992 to Jan.22,1993 ROOSTER: Jan.22,1909 to Feb.09,1910 Feb.08,1921 to Jan.27,1922 Jan.26,1933 to Feb.13,1934 Feb.13,1945 to Feb.01,1946 Jan.31,1957 to Feb.17,1958 Feb.17,1969 to Feb.05,1970 Feb.05,1981 to Jan.24,1982 Jan.23,1993 to Feb.09,1994 DOG: Feb.10,1910 to Jan.29,1911 Jan.28,1922 to Feb.13,1923 Feb.14,1934 to Feb.03,1935 Feb.02,1946 to Jan.21,1947 Feb.18,1958 to Feb.07,1959 Feb.06,1970 to Jan.26,1971 Jan.25,1982 to Feb.12,1983 Feb.10,1994 to Jan.30,1995 BOAR OR PIG: Jan.30,1911 to Feb.17,1912 Feb.16,1923 to Feb.04,1924 Feb.04,1935 to Jan.23,1936 Jan.22,1947 to Feb.09,1948 Feb.08,1959 to Jan.27,1960 Jan.27,1971 to Jan.15,1972 Feb.13,1983 to Feb.01,1984 Jan.31,1995 to Feb.18,1996 Note: IF the years shown are earlier than your birthyear you can find your Zodiac animal sign by deducting 12 from your birthyear to ascertain your Zodiac sign, i.e. A son born in June, 2002. Deduct 12 from 2002 and you get 1990. Look up June 1990 and you see it falls under the influence of "Year of the Horse." So if you were born in June of 2002, your Chinese Zodiac sign is "Horse." For a better understanding of my "What if," let's see what "Year of the Horse" coins were struck in 2002. Let's make this even simpler by discovering what gold "Year of the Horse" coins dated 2002 were struck I think you will agree this gold "Year of the Horse" coin struck by the Perth Mint in Australia is a good start. It is the second coin of their Lunar series of Chinese zodiac coins: http://www.lunarcollectorcoins.com/year-2002-horse-gold-coins.htm I hope you read all the text and learned more about the different metals used, the low mintages and the different weights produced (1/10 ounce, Silver, 1/4 ounce and 1 ounce. I've selected a few great 2002 "Year of the Horse" gold coins for you to view.but first, another prominent weight (2 oz. gold) from the Perth Mint. As "good fortune" prevails Coin of the Year presents us with a great photo of the 2 oz gold coin, but, also, gives us a bonus look at the silver 1 oz. "Year of the Horse" coin too: http://www.coinoftheyear.com/horse.html Here's a contribution to our subject matter produced by the Royal Candian Mint. Please read accompanying text: http://www.centercoin.com/canadian_royal_mint/lunar_cameo/year_of_the_horse_coin.htm Note other countries produced 2002 "Year of the Horse" coins in weights up to a kilogram. Panda America offers all these: http://www.pandaamerica.com/NEWS_china_rareHorses_03_29_2002.ASP Here's a 1/10 oz. you're sure to like courtesy of Sunfeico: http://www.sunfeico.com/2002ghorse_round.htm Courtesy of Sunfeico here's two images of two very unique 2002 "Year of the Horse" coins (one 1 oz. silver, one 1/2 oz gold): http://www.sunfeico.com/2002fan_horse_silver.htm http://www.sunfeico.com/2002fan_horse_gold.htm And here's a colorized version of our subject coins: http://www.sunfeico.com/2002color_horse.htm Would like to see one of Viet Nam's gold 2002 "Year of the Horse" coins? Image courtesy of Singapore Mint: http://www.singaporemint.com/media_releases.php?rID=10 Someone once said to "Leave the best for last." With that premise here is an image of the Royal Canadian Mint's Hologram "Year of the Horse" coin: http://www.colonialacres.com/cgi-bin/dispitem.cgi?item=2002horsegold Even in collecting Chinese Zodiac coins you have choices, i.e. you may collect only gold or silver Chinese Zodiac coins bearing your western birthyear date. you may collect only uncirculated single coins of any weight or purity bearing your Westen birthyear date. you may collect only proof singles of any weight or purity bearing your birthyear date. you may collect sets of either NCLT precious metal coins bearing your birthyear date. You may collect all years indicated under your zodiac sign, including your birthyear date. You may collect any or all coins bearing any Chinese Zodiac animal on it. Here are two 12 piece Chinese Zodiac coin sets. Both images courtesy of Joels Coins: Look at this set authorized by Malawi: http://www.joelscoins.com/new1.htm#malawi And we close this subject with Somalia's 12 piece set: http://www.joelscoins.com/new1.htm#somalia If you have a photo of your Chinese Zodiac coin please show me... Hope you enjoyed, Clinker
I'm the Year of the Snake. Known that for quite a while. Told that to a Chinese man one time and his initial reaction was, "Ooooooo, that's not good." Okay, now I have to find out how bad it really is.
Just to complicate things, you should be aware that since 1872 the Japanese zodiac year has aligned with the western Gregorian calendar; and virtually all the rest of Southeast Asia uses the Gregorian solar calendar for secular purposes today, but maintains the Buddhist lunar calendar for some purposes. Except in Japan, where everyone born in a given Gregorian year shares the same zodiac sign. The Southeast Asian lunar calendar names the years somewhat differently from culture to culture. For example, although the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai calendars all include the years of the Rat, Tiger, Horse, Monkey, Rooster and Dog: The Chinese/Japanese Year of the Ox is the Vietnamese Year of the Buffalo and the Thai Year of the Bull The Chinese/Japanese/Thai Year of the Rabbit is the Vietnamese Year of the Cat The Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese Years of the Dragon and Snake are the Thai Years of the Big Snake and Little Snake The Chinese Year of the Sheep/Goat is the Japanese Year of the Sheep and the Vietnamese/Thai Year of the Goat The Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai Year of the Pig is the Japanese Year of the Wild Boar None of which seriously impacts Clinker's interesting approach to a targeted collection, and frankly isn't likely to win any trivia bar bets.
Hi Just Carl: So happy you read my post and "thank you" for commenting. You didn't tell me if you own any "Year of the Tiger" coins. Do you? Clinker
Good to hear from you raider34: Thanks for commenting. Do you have any "Year of the Horse" coins with your birthyear date on it/them? Clinker
Wow hontonai! Thanks for the addendum. Maybe some member will do the same with the Western Zodiac. :hail: Clinker
Very interesting. Now I know that I'm year of the Dog. I think I have an Irish coin with a dog on it. But that's about all in my collection with this theme. Very interesting thread and posts. Thanks.
Hello Kanga: It's not as bad as the image "Snake" conjurs up. There are some very meaningful attributes to "Snake" including your compatibity signs in both female and male.
Hey Art! Thanks for reading and posting your first comment on an article of mine :hug: Do you have a coin with your Western Zodiac on it? Clinker P.S. Also want to thank you for the "Post of the Week" nomination...
I don't believe in astrology and its associated features. BUT Sometimes I wonder. Turns out a Snake (me) is compatible with my wife's animal (Rooster). And to top it off Capricorn (me) is most compatible with Virgo (wife). And we've been married 40 years. Scary!
Interesting post and links, thank you! I don't collect zodiac sign coins but happen to have one from the French "La Fontaine" series. One is enough for me though. What the French mint did (and still does, with one issue per year) is a combination of Jean de La Fontaine's fables (always the same reverse) and Chinese zodiac animals. Here are the pieces that have been issued so far: Above: Year of the Dog 2006 / Year of the Pig 2007 (sorry, the actual size of the pieces is the same ...) Below: Year of The Rat 2008 / Year of the Ox 2009 The other side is the same for all issues, except that the nominal value was a quarter euro first and is now 5 euro. But then those silver pieces cost more than face anyway ... Christian
collect89 was born in the year of the dog. I hope this photo posts big but you may have to click on it to see it full size. Please post your birth year coins.
Hi Collect89: Thanks for sharing the "Dog" Zodiac coin... I, too, would like to see your Zodiac (Chinese or Western or India) astrology sign bearing coin/s. :hail: Clinker
To Kanga: You know some religious scholars believe astrology was taught to humans by a "fallen angel." And still other religious historians believe the Gods and Goddesses prevelent in African, Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Scandinavian and other cultures were, also, "fallen" angels and the statues sculpted during that time period were of those "fallen" angels and the names (Aries, Odin, Thor, Artemis, Minerva, Diana, Hercules, etc. are actual names of those "fallen" angels. I wonder too... Clinker