150 Dollars - Elizabeth II Year of the Horse

Part of the Royal Canadian Mint's ongoing lunar series issued for the Chinese-Canadian community, the 2002 Horse coin appeared the same year Hong Kong's post-handover economy was still absorbing the aftershocks of the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis — a fact that made gold-backed commemoratives particularly attractive to buyers hedging against regional currency instability. The series had launched in 1998 with the Year of the Tiger, establishing a collector base that sustained the run through all twelve zodiac animals.

Struck in 18-karat gold rather than the .9999 fineness used in bullion issues, the alloy choice kept production costs accessible while maintaining genuine precious metal content.