Canada's Lunar New Year gold series, launched by the Royal Canadian Mint in the late 1990s, was among the first Western government mint programs explicitly targeting the overseas Chinese collector market. The 2003 Sheep issue — the eighth in the twelve-year cycle — appeared the same year SARS devastated communities across Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Chinese diaspora in Canada, suppressing secondary market activity for the entire release year.
The .750 gold alloy, unusual for a bullion-adjacent issue, gives the coin a distinctly warm, rose-tinged color compared to standard 24-karat pieces.
Canada's Lunar New Year gold series, launched by the Royal Canadian Mint in the late 1990s, was among the first Western government mint programs explicitly targeting the overseas Chinese collector market. The 2003 Sheep issue — the eighth in the twelve-year cycle — appeared the same year SARS devastated communities across Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Chinese diaspora in Canada, suppressing secondary market activity for the entire release year.
The .750 gold alloy, unusual for a bullion-adjacent issue, gives the coin a distinctly warm, rose-tinged color compared to standard 24-karat pieces.