Chinese New Year Coins

2016 Cook Islands 5 oz Silver Mother of Pearl Year of the Monkey

The most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, the Chinese New Year (also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year) has become a much-celebrated event not only in China but in countries around the world.

Beginning on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar, the Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is a centuries-old celebration that includes red colored decorations, gifts, food, clothing and banners, centered around celebrations for luck and good fortune in the upcoming year.

This year, The Chinese New Year falls on Monday February 8th. The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.

Each Chinese New Year is named after one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month.

This year it’s the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Monkey will be in 2028.

2016 New Zealand 1 oz Proof Silver $2 Lunar Year of the Monkey

In celebrating Luck and Good Fortune, the theme of wealth, both spiritual and physical is on display and wealth accumulation and preservation is a common theme. As such both gold and silver coins, bars and jewelry have become a celebratory symbol and each year mints from across the globe produce precious metal coins and products for just that purpose.

One of the largest sources we found online for Chinese New Year coins and products was Apmex, with over 1157 different product offerings. You can find Gold Lunar coins from 1/20th oz to huge coins that contain 1 kilo (32.15 oz) of .9999 fine Gold. Silver from a half oz to half a kilo were also available, including colorized coins, bullion bars from Pamp Suisse and of course the ever popular Chinese Gold and Silver Pandas, that serve as gifts, collectibles and investments year round.

Happy New Year, especially to all the “monkeys” out there….

View The Apmex Chinese New Year Coins Selection Here

Fun Facts – Lucky Signs for the Monkey

• Lucky numbers: 1, 7, 8
• Lucky colours: white, gold, blue
• Lucky flowers: chrysanthemum, alliums
• Lucky directions: north, northwest, west

2016 1/10 oz Gold Lunar Year of the Monkey Proof (Colorized)

Famous people born under the monkey sign

Julius Caesar, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Michael Douglas, Alice Walker, Celine Dion, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Owen Wilson, Daniel Craig, Mick Jagger, Bette Davis, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gisele Bundchen, Kim Cattrall, Nick Carter, Patricia Arquette, Alyson Stoner, Christina Ricci, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez.

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