Disney makes the leap into the lunar coin market with a new silver coin and a foil

Finally something a little new in the Lunar coin market with the release of the first big licenced coins in the Disney franchise from the New Zealand Mint. The NZM is actually debuting three new lunars, one of which isn’t Disney-related, and of the two that are, one is a foil, the new format that seems to be gaining in popularity with mints lately. An interesting concept and quite unexpected. Our only caveat would be the likelihood of there ever being a set of 12 of either of the Disney coins, given the fickle nature of licencing. Treat them as individual releases for now.

The first one to look at is the Disney lunar coin. For the most part cleanly struck, with just the Chinese symbol for dog picked out in colour, this is the one that will likely have the most appeal to lunar coin collectors. Depicting Mickey Mouse in front of a stylised dog, it’s actually a really cool design that works well for the subject and yet avoids all the saccharine sweetness that so often blights Disney memorabilia. The packaging looks identical to that used by the NZM for its Feng Shui series and that was of a very high standard. Sells for $85.00 USD.

The second ‘coin’ is actually one of the new silver foils. They’ve been around for a few years now, but only recently made the jump to denominated currency. They look like banknotes (150 x 70 mm in size), but are formed from five grams of fine silver. Sealed to protect them from handling, foils provide a relatively huge canvas to show coin art. This one takes the design from the regular coin and expands it, along with surrounding it with patterns. The colouring has been increased to encompass the characters as well, but isn’t excessive. Supplied in a gatefold sleeve and selling for $39.00 USD, foils are something you either like or don’t. To those that do, this is only the second lunar foil to be launched, following CIT’s effort last month.

Last up is a more traditional release and a continuation of the mints lunar cycle. A pair of coloured German Shepherd dogs against a Chinese rockery background is nice enough. Packaged in one of the mints superb acrylic display blocks, this $80.00 coin will likely please collectors of this understated series. All of the coins here will be available to buy later today.

2018 DISNEY YEAR OF THE DOG SILVER COIN

This is the first coin in a Lunar coin collection licensed by Disney. Celebrating the 2018 Lunar Year of the Dog, the coin design features an engraving of a smiling Mickey Mouse with a stylized dog, direct from Disney’s Chinese Zodiac Animals collection. The Chinese character for Dog is highlighted in red.

2017 DISNEY YEAR OF THE DOG SILVER FOIL

This stunning 5g pure silver foil celebrates the 2018 Lunar Year of the Dog with Disney’s Mickey Mouse. The engraved foil includes the image for Year of the Dog from Disney’s Chinese Zodiac Animals collection, along with the Chinese character for Dog, highlighted in red. The number in the mintage is printed on the reverse of each foil. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

2018 YEAR OF THE DOG SILVER COIN

This coin shows a coloured image of powerful German Shepherd Dogs. The polished background features an engraved Chinese pine tree and rockery, signifying a steady foundation and long life. “Year of the Dog” is engraved in English along with the Chinese character for Dog.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2018 DISNEY/LUNAR 2018 FOIL
DENOMINATION $2 New Zealand $0.20 New Zealand
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1 grams 5.0 g
DIAMETER 40.00 mm 150.00 x 70.00 mm
FINISH Proof Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS Colour Colour
MINTAGE 10,000 of each 50,000
BOX / COA Yes / Yes Yes / Yes