Canada's Lunar series has been a reliable annual release from the RCM since the late 1990s, targeting the considerable Chinese-Canadian population and broader collector base with coins timed to the Lunar New Year calendar. The 2021 Ox issue appeared during a year when the Royal Canadian Mint was managing COVID-19 disruptions to both production schedules and its retail network, pushing more sales through online channels than in previous years.
The .9999 fineness is characteristic of the modern RCM bullion and numismatic program — finer than the traditional .999 standard most mints use for silver issues.
Canada's Lunar series has been a reliable annual release from the RCM since the late 1990s, targeting the considerable Chinese-Canadian population and broader collector base with coins timed to the Lunar New Year calendar. The 2021 Ox issue appeared during a year when the Royal Canadian Mint was managing COVID-19 disruptions to both production schedules and its retail network, pushing more sales through online channels than in previous years.
The .9999 fineness is characteristic of the modern RCM bullion and numismatic program — finer than the traditional .999 standard most mints use for silver issues.