World exclusive: CIT bring their dimensional smartminting to the lunar market with a Mongolian Pig

It isn’t just their skull range that has a new addition – CIT Coin Invest have expanded their dimensional coin range with a fine effort in what has become a predictable and slightly stale lunar market. That the lunar market sometimes fails to excite collectors is inevitable in hindsight. The twelve year cycle, and the need to keep each issue similar to its siblings so that a set remains cohesive, mean that surprise is often written out of the equation. However, if the shape of the coin is not pre-set, there’s a lot more scope for change. Enter the Mongolian Pig.

Now CIT are no strangers to the dimensional coin market. It’s still a fledgling one with few players, but it’s hard to deny the Liechtenstein-based producer is the best out there at designing them, or that BH Mayer strike them better than anyone else. Case in point is this new debut lunar. Called the Jolly Silver Pig, it’s shaped like our best friend (at least until someone rediscovers T-Rex bacon…) and is decorated with multiple floral patterns. Impressively, the obverse side isn’t just a flat face, but continues the dimensional nature of the reverse to form something that will quite happily stand freely. These coins are never what you would call bargain basement issues, but the weight has been kept to a sensible one-ounce, so it should be relatively affordable compared to something bigger. Provided in a good-looking red box, it should ship in October.

Also released at the same time is an addition to CIT’s coin note range that takes the pig design of the dimensional coin to the other extreme by being about as flat as you can get a piece of silver. Despite being 150 x 70 mm in size, it weighs just five grams. If you’ve seen one of CIT’s Skyline Dollars, or one of the NZ Mints numerous popular culture ranges, you’ll know what to expect. Basically, we’re talking about a banknote made of fine silver, sealed in acrylic, and with a certificate of authenticity part of the obverse design. The release of coin notes has accelerated hugely so far in 2018, so we should soon find out if they’ve become a hit with collectors or not.

Last up is the ubiquitous minigold 0.5g version. Nobody has done more to popularise this format than CIT and they release a great selection every year. While only 11 mm in diameter, modern minting techniques mean they can hold a surprising amount of detail for their size. That seems to be an understatement this time, as the baby lunar holds an extraordinary amount of detail. If minigold coins are your thing, this doesn’t look like it will disappoint. Like the others, it wil ship in October.

We’ll have our annual guide to the lunars up some time in the next couple of weeks as the number of lunars increases, and we’ll have a look at Artisans interesting Ominous Lunar dog coin as well.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

Mongolian lunar year issues are still rare and sought after. Beginning in 2016 with the Year of the Monkey, CIT has issued lunar coins for Mongolia every year in various specification ranging from minute 11mm gold coins to the large silver note canvas in the Year of the Dog.

For 2019 Mongolian lunar coins for the first time receive a smartminting treatment resulting in the charming and truly uniqe Jolly Silver Pig. Minted from one  ounce of fine silver, the Jolly Silver Pig is a three dimensional numismatic sculpture with beautiful floral ornaments. The pig is minted in a way that allows it stand freely on its own to make an ideal display and conversation piece. It is undoubtedly one of the most unique lunar coins ever minted and ships in an elegant collector’s box.

The Jolly Silver Pig is flanked by two additional lunar coins – a traditional gold version and once again a five-gram silver note with brilliant surface finishing.