China's annual lunar gold bullion program has issued kilogram-denominated pieces for decades, but the scalloped format — twelve lobes corresponding to the twelve animals of the zodiac cycle — was introduced specifically to distinguish the premium collector tier from the round bullion issues struck in the same metal and year. The Shanghai Mint produces these under People's Bank authorization, with official mintages tightly capped and announced in advance through state channels.
The Dragon year consistently drives the highest secondary-market premiums within the lunar series, a pattern documented across every twelve-year cycle since the program's modern incarnation.
China's annual lunar gold bullion program has issued kilogram-denominated pieces for decades, but the scalloped format — twelve lobes corresponding to the twelve animals of the zodiac cycle — was introduced specifically to distinguish the premium collector tier from the round bullion issues struck in the same metal and year. The Shanghai Mint produces these under People's Bank authorization, with official mintages tightly capped and announced in advance through state channels.
The Dragon year consistently drives the highest secondary-market premiums within the lunar series, a pattern documented across every twelve-year cycle since the program's modern incarnation.