Specifications
Chinese Lunar Gold at a glance
Composition
- Alloy
- Gold (99.9% fine)
- Color
- Warm 24k gold; three-nines fineness
- Thickness
- 1.90 mm
- Available weights
- 1 g, 3 g, 8 g, 15 g, 1 oz, 5 oz, 12 oz, 1 kg
Provenance
- Issuing mint
- China Gold Coin (PBoC) →
- Mint location
- Shanghai, Shenzhen & Shenyang mints
- First minted
- 1981
- Face value
- Varies by size (CNY)
- Legal tender
- Yes
- IRA eligible (US)
- Yes
Source: issuing mint specifications, cross-checked against published dealer and grading-service data.
The story
History
Alongside the famous Gold Panda, China’s official mints have struck a Lunar (zodiac) series since 1981, each year honoring one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The series runs in parallel cycles and has become a collector staple across Greater China and beyond.
Unlike the Panda, the Lunar coins are known for their variety and showmanship: round and scalloped (fan-shaped) formats, colored issues, and high-relief designs, often produced in capped mintages that lend them collector value. The deep cultural significance of the zodiac — and the tradition of gifting gold at Lunar New Year — gives these coins enduring demand, especially in the year of one’s birth sign.
China Gold Coin issues the Lunar series in a wide spread of sizes, from tiny 1-gram pieces ideal as gifts up to large kilo coins for serious investors and collectors.
- 1981 — First Chinese gold zodiac coins
- Famous for round and scalloped (fan-shaped) formats
- Capped mintages give many issues collector value
- Peak demand in each animal’s zodiac year
The two faces
Design
A Chinese landmark or auspicious motif — often the Temple of Heaven or a national emblem — with the issuing legend and year.
The zodiac animal of the year (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, and so on), frequently in ornate or stylised settings; some issues are colored or struck in shaped formats.
Representative emblem — no freely-licensed photograph of the Chinese Lunar Gold is available, as its modern design is under mint copyright. The gold coin pictured is a generic Wise With Gold illustration, not the actual Chinese Lunar Gold; the genuine obverse and reverse are described above.
Authentication & counterfeit watch
How to spot a genuine Chinese Lunar Gold
Specifications depend on size; a 1 oz round Lunar weighs 31.10 g at about 32 mm diameter, .999 fine and non-magnetic. Because the series spans many formats (including scalloped and colored issues), verify the design, format and size against the cataloged issue for that zodiac year — a mismatch is a red flag. China’s coins are among the more counterfeited, so prefer sealed mint packaging and check weight and dimensions precisely.
Authentication guidance is general reference, not a substitute for professional verification. For high-value purchases, buy from reputable dealers and consider professional grading.
For the investor
Investment considerations
The Lunar series is bought as much for collecting and gifting as for bullion. Capped mintages and the cultural pull of the zodiac mean popular animals (the Dragon above all) and birth-year coins can carry meaningful premiums.
At .999 fineness from a national mint, the coins meet the IRS purity standard, though — like the Panda — custodian acceptance varies, so confirm before buying for an IRA. Liquidity is strongest across Greater China and the wider Asia-Pacific market.
For pure low-cost bullion, plainer coins like the Krugerrand or Maple Leaf are cheaper; the Lunar’s appeal is its design, variety and cultural resonance.
Common questions
Chinese Lunar Gold FAQ
How is the Lunar series different from the Gold Panda?
Both come from China’s official mints, but the Panda is an annual panda design while the Lunar series follows the 12-animal zodiac — and the Lunar coins are far more varied, including scalloped and colored formats.
Which Lunar coins are most valuable?
Capped-mintage and culturally favored years — especially the Dragon — and a buyer’s own birth-sign year tend to command the strongest premiums.
Are Chinese Lunar gold coins IRA-eligible?
At .999 fine they meet the IRS purity standard and many custodians accept them, but acceptance varies for Chinese coins — confirm with your custodian first.