The celebration of Christmas, the Olympics, or other predictable and repetitive events are increasingly being marked by coins. While these events are important, they pale when compared to the many mints and countries that are now issuing coins to mark the annually celebrated tradition of the Lunar New Year.
The zodiac symbols of the Lunar New Year, or shengxiao (“born resembling”), are repeated in a 12-year cycle, each year being represented by a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, in that order. This year, which began on Feb. 5, is the Year of the Pig. People following the tradition associate each animal with certain characteristics that are believed to fit the personality of people born in that lunar year.
Coins marking the Lunar…
