China's annual Lunar New Year silver series has been issued continuously since 1981, making it one of the longest-running modern bullion programs in the world. The 5 Yuan face value is a legal tender denomination but bears no relationship to the coin's actual market value, a deliberate structuring choice the People's Bank adopted to satisfy legal tender requirements without pegging collectible issues to commodity prices.
The 2023 issue marks the Year of the Rabbit in the 60-year sexagenary cycle — not merely the 12-year zodiac rotation, but the specific Wood Rabbit year, which last occurred in 1963.
China's annual Lunar New Year silver series has been issued continuously since 1981, making it one of the longest-running modern bullion programs in the world. The 5 Yuan face value is a legal tender denomination but bears no relationship to the coin's actual market value, a deliberate structuring choice the People's Bank adopted to satisfy legal tender requirements without pegging collectible issues to commodity prices.
The 2023 issue marks the Year of the Rabbit in the 60-year sexagenary cycle — not merely the 12-year zodiac rotation, but the specific Wood Rabbit year, which last occurred in 1963.