10 Yuan Year of the Horse

China's Lunar Series I zodiac coins, of which this is the Horse issue, were produced at multiple mints simultaneously — Shanghai, Shenyang, and Shenzhen — creating subtle die and finish variations that collectors have documented extensively. The series had already built a strong following among overseas Chinese communities by the early 2000s, driving premiums well above face value from initial release.

2002 was the year Wang Junxia, Deng Yaping, and other state-celebrated athletes were being held up in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic bid announcement — but the Horse year itself carried older resonance: traditional Chinese astrology associates it with speed, endurance, and travel, attributes that gave the coin particular popularity as a gift item in export markets.