Monnaie de Paris commences its second lunar cycle with a superb new dog coin in high relief

Despite being over six months away, lunar year of the dog coins are starting to come thick and fast, culminating next week with the release of the super popular Perth Mint Lunar II coins. Just because those are the biggest and most awaited of the lunar coins doesn’t mean they’re the best, and everybody else is going to have to make an extra effort to top this new coin from the Monnaie de Paris (MdP).

Last year saw the final coin in this French mints first lunar coin cycle, so this latest 2018 release represents the first in a new twelve year run with a refreshed design style. Having seen this first coin we’ve got high hopes for this being one of the best of the animal lunar tsunami. Two MdP staple formats are present in the three coin range. A quarter ounce gold coin is common enough here and elsewhere, and the 22 gram silver format is one the MdP issues all the time in its many ranges. New here is a one-ounce silver high-relief coin that looks great in the official images.

The reverse depicts a chow-chow posed to appear as if it’s leaving a hole in the coin and is a beautiful rendition, enhanced superbly in the case of the high-relief variant. The dual surrounding borders are intricate and attractive, also aiding in the perception of depth. The obverse is common to all three variants and is laid out almost like a simple spiders web, radiating out from a single point and covering an extensive menagerie. Equally full of detail and interesting visual elements, this design will no doubt be used for the whole series from now until the 2029 Rooster coin.

Each coin will come in a small neat box with a certificate of authenticity. Expected to be issued in the first week of September, we’d be surprised if this didn’t turn out to be the best of the national mint lunar coins, although as with everything, personal taste may dictate your view being different.

2018 FRANCE YEAR OF THE DOG SILVER COINS

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The 2018 collection has three 10 and 20 euro currencies in silver, 50 euro in gold. The reliefs of that of 20 euro have a height of 1.50 mm (usually the reliefs of a currency do not exceed 0.15 mm).

REVERSE: Overflowing through two circular friezes with traditional Chinese motifs, a Chow-chow; 2018 vintage above his head; On his body the kanji meaning dog (狗 [gou]). Legend YEAR OF THE DOG

OBVERSE: Coming to surround the two gates of a temple on which are inscribed the initials RF of French Republic, a screen, decorated with the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, represented several times each; At the ends, along the listel, the years 2018 to 2029; Face value 10 EURO top left, on two lines. Legend CHINESE CALENDAR

2018 FRANCE YEAR OF THE DOG GOLD COIN

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2018 SILVER 2018 UHR SILVER 2018 GOLD
DENOMINATION €10 Euro €20 Euro €50 Euro
COMPOSITION 0.900 silver 0.999 silver 0.999 gold
WEIGHT 22.2 grams 31.104 g 7.78 g
DIAMETER 37.00 mm 22.00 mm 22.00 mm
FINISH Proof Proof Proof
MODIFICATIONS None High relief None
MINTAGE 5,000 5,000 500
BOX / COA Yes / Yes Yes / Yes Yes / Yes