1 Kilo Chinese Lunar Silver Coin

China's Zodiac Kilo in Silver

The 1 Kilo Emirates Gold Chinese Lunar silver coin brings the Chinese zodiac tradition into a substantial bullion format. Produced by Emirates Gold, this .999 fine silver kilo coin follows the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar, featuring a different zodiac animal for each year. The Chinese lunar coin tradition dates back to 1981, when the People's Bank of China issued its first zodiac commemorative, making it one of the oldest modern lunar coin programmes in existence.

Each year's design depicts the corresponding zodiac animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, or Pig. Dragon year issues consistently command the highest premiums across all lunar programmes, reflecting the animal's cultural significance in Chinese tradition as a symbol of power and good fortune. The rotating design gives collectors a reason to acquire each annual release, building a set over the twelve-year cycle.

At 1 kilogram, this format sits in the kilo weight class where premiums over spot are typically lowest for retail silver. The 1 Kilo silver coin category appeals to buyers seeking maximum metal content per transaction, minimising the per-gram cost of their silver holdings. Emirates Gold, based in the UAE, produces this coin as part of the broader Chinese Lunar tradition that spans multiple mints worldwide.

Chinese Lunar 1 Kilo Silver Specifications

The .999 purity places this coin at the standard three-nines fineness used by most silver bullion programmes globally. This matches the purity of the original Chinese government lunar coins (also .999 silver) and coins from mints such as the Austrian Philharmonic and American Silver Eagle. Some competing lunar programmes, notably the Perth Mint Lunar, use .9999 purity for their kilo format.

The Chinese lunar coin market is distinguished by design variety across producers. Where the original CHNGC coins came in round, scallop-shaped, fan-shaped, and rectangular formats, the Emirates Gold version maintains a conventional round format suited to bullion investors rather than shape collectors. The 1 kg weight uses a large diameter typical of kilo coins from major producers, making it a substantial display piece alongside its bullion function.

Four Decades of Chinese Zodiac Coinage

China began minting lunar zodiac coins in 1981 with the Year of the Rooster, an 8-gram gold piece that became the first modern Chinese zodiac coin. The People's Bank of China has since completed four full twelve-year cycles in the main round series, with a fifth cycle starting in 2020. This makes the Chinese Lunar one of the longest-running modern coin programmes, predating the Perth Mint Lunar (1996), the Royal Mint Lunar (2014), and the Korean Lunar (2016) by considerable margins.

The original programme was produced by China Gold Coin Corporation (CHNGC), established in 1987 as the sole entity authorised to deal in PRC precious metal commemorative coins. Production occurs primarily at Shenyang Mint, with Shanghai Mint producing alternative designs since 1988. This dual-mint approach has resulted in up to four design variants per zodiac year, a level of variety unique to the Chinese programme.

The tradition has since spread to mints worldwide. Emirates Gold's interpretation of the Chinese Lunar joins versions from the Perth Mint, Royal Mint, Korean Mint (KOMSCO), and numerous private mints. Each brings its own artistic interpretation while respecting the core zodiac symbolism. The scallop-shaped coins from CHNGC remain unique in the global bullion market, with no other major programme producing precious metals in this format.

Comparing 1 Kilo Lunar Silver Coins

The Emirates Gold Chinese Lunar kilo competes in a specific niche: large-format lunar-themed silver for buyers who want zodiac symbolism combined with substantial silver content.

The Perth Mint 1 Kilo Lunar is the dominant competitor in this space. Perth Mint offers .9999 purity versus .999 here, carries Australian legal tender status, and benefits from the Perth Mint's established global distribution network. The Perth Mint Lunar is now in its third series (Series III began 2020), with earlier series coins trading at collector premiums.

The original Chinese government kilo coins (300 Yuan face value, .999 silver) are produced in strictly limited mintages, pushing them firmly into the numismatic category with prices well above melt value. The Emirates Gold version offers the Chinese zodiac theme at closer-to-bullion pricing, filling a gap between the rare CHNGC originals and the widely available Perth Mint alternative.

For buyers indifferent to the lunar theme, a plain 1 Kilo silver coin from a major sovereign mint will typically carry a lower premium. The lunar design adds a collector dimension that can support secondary market value but also increases the initial purchase price above generic kilo bars or coins.