50 Yuan Year of the Dog

China's lunar gold series has been issued annually since 1981, making the Dog one of the later entries in a now well-established cycle. The 50 Yuan face value is nominal by design — the Chinese government sets legal tender denominations on these pieces far below bullion value, a deliberate policy maintained across the series to classify them as collectibles rather than circulating currency, which affects their regulatory and tax treatment both domestically and in export markets.