Two years after China began minting Modern Chinese Coins, in 1981, the first Lunar gold and silver coins were produced. Nearly two decades later, in Year 2000, the innovative Chinese started to produce fan-shaped gold and silver coins that depicted the Lunar animals each year. Shenzhen Guobao Mint produced these coins such that when all 12 coins are put together, the silver coins would form the outer full circle while the gold coins would form the inner circle.
The gold version is proof-struck from 1/2 oz of 99.9% gold, with an outer radius of 58 mm while inner radius is 39 mm. It has a face value of 50 Yuan and a small mintage of 6,600. In the second half of 2009, there was only one transacted in international ebay at S$1,020 shipped while the NGC PF69 Ultra Cameo was transacted at S$1,348. These two transactions were done in July and August respectively, before gold price reached record high of US$1,226.
The silver version is a 1 oz BU version struck from 99.9% silver. Its outer radius measure 85 mm, inner radius of 60 mm. It has a face value of 10 Yuan and mintage of 66,000. Its transacted price ranges from S$148 to S$172.
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Obverse: