Buy Lunar Niue gold coins

The Lunar Niue Series: a fusion of tradition and art

Overview and inspiration

The Lunar Niue series draws inspiration from the Chinese zodiac, which comprises twelve animals, each representing a year in a cyclical twelve-year cycle. Each coin in the series features a design dedicated to one of these zodiac signs, making them highly collectible and sought after for their aesthetic and cultural value. The series began in 2015 with the Year of the Goat and continues annually, with a new design corresponding to the zodiac sign of the year.

Collectability and investment

Collecting gold Lunar Niue coins is not just a way to invest in physical gold, but also an opportunity to own a piece of a limited series that appreciates in value over time. As each year passes, the coins become rarer, especially those from earlier in the series, offering potential future gains for collectors who wish to sell to enthusiasts looking to complete or start their collections.

Historical significance of the Lunar Niue Series

The New Zealand Mint launched the Lunar Niue series in 2015, starting with the Year of the Goat. Each subsequent year has seen the release of a new coin, carefully crafted to represent the zodiac sign of that year. This includes the Monkey (2016), Rooster (2017), Dog (2018), Pig (2019), Rat (2020), Ox (2021), and Tiger (2022). Did you know that you can also collect Lunar coins from other countries? Check out the category for buying gold Lunar United Kingdom coins.

The meaning behind the Chinese Zodiac

Twelve signs and personalities

The Chinese zodiac, deeply rooted in Chinese culture, uses twelve animals to symbolize years and the personalities of people born in those years. This influences Chinese astrology and determines how people's lives intertwine with the cosmos. The significance of the zodiac is celebrated worldwide, influencing various cultural and commercial products, including these precious coins.

The story of the race

The story behind the Chinese zodiac is a fascinating mix of mythology and folklore, deeply embedded in Chinese culture. According to legend, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven in Chinese mythology, invited all animals to visit him on his birthday. He announced a race to determine the order in which the animals would appear on the zodiac calendar.

On race day, the animals had to cross a river to reach the Jade Emperor's palace. The weak swimmer, the rat, hitched a ride on the ox but jumped off just before the finish line to arrive first. The ox came in second.

Despite strong currents, the tiger arrived third, followed by the rabbit, which luckily hopped from stone to stone and finally onto a floating log. The dragon, who paused along the way to make rain for farmers and help a rabbit, finished fifth.

The snake, hiding in the hoof of the horse, sprang out just before the finish, startling the horse and finishing sixth, just ahead of the horse.

The goat, monkey, and rooster built a raft together and crossed the river, earning them the eighth, ninth, and tenth places due to their excellent teamwork.

The dog, too busy playing in the water, came in eleventh, and the pig, which ate and slept along the way, arrived last, completing the zodiac cycle.

Gold purity in the 1 troy ounce Lunar Niue coins

Each Lunar Niue gold coin is minted with a purity of 999.9/1000 gold, making them highly pure and adding to their attractiveness as both collectibles and valuable investments. This high level of purity ensures that each coin not only retains its value through its zodiac design but also as a solid gold investment.

These coins are minted in the weight of 1 troy ounce (1 Oz). When you buy troy ounce gold is a unit of weight traditionally used in the precious metals trade, primarily for gold and silver. It is slightly heavier than the common or avoirdupois ounce, often used in the United States for weighing food and other goods. The name "troy" is derived from the Troyes weight system originally from the French city of Troyes in the Middle Ages, where the system was used for trade and weighing precious metals. The troy system was developed because there was a need for a standardized measure for trading in precious metals, which was more accurate than other systems of the time.

Niue: the Pacific Island of coins

Niue is located east of Tonga and south of Samoa and has an area of 260 square kilometers. Despite its small size, Niue has gained international recognition for its issuance of unique collectible coins.

In addition to the Lunar series, Niue is also known for issuing other gold coins such as the Niue Bitcoin gold coin and the opportunity  to buy Gold Turtle coins, showcasing its versatility and innovative spirit in the numismatic field. These coins often celebrate modern themes and popular culture, making Niue a leader in the global market for collectible coins.

The New Zealand Mint: pioneer in modern coinage

The New Zealand Mint, known for its innovative approach to coin design and its commitment to quality, is responsible for producing the Lunar Niue coins. This Mint has built a reputation for creating coins that are not only legal tender but also artistic masterpieces. The New Zealand Mint is one of the first mints in the world to adopt the technology for color printing on coins, setting a high standard in the numismatic industry. Its approach to blending traditional themes with modern technology has made it a key player in the world of coinage.

The Mint's range extends beyond cultural coins. It also produces coins under themes of popular media, historical events, and figures, making it a diverse and dynamic mint. The mint also offers the opportunity to buy silver coins.

Gold coins from the Lunar Niue series

The Lunar Niue series currently consists of the following coins:

2015: Buy Lunar Niue Goat gold coins
2016: Buy Lunar Niue Monkey gold coins
2017: Buy Lunar Niue Rooster gold coins
2018: Buy Lunar Niue Dog gold coins
2019: Buy Lunar Niue Pig gold coins
2020: Buy Lunar Niue Rat gold coins
2021: Buy Lunar Niue Ox gold coins
2022: Buy Lunar Niue Tiger gold coins
2023: Buy Lunar Niue Rabbit gold coins